Can humans smell tastants?

Although studies have shown that olfaction may contribute to the perception of tastant, literature is scarce or circumstantial, especially in humans. This study aims to (i) explore whether humans can perceive solutions of basic prototypical tastants through orthonasal and retronasal olfaction and (ii) to examine what volatile odor compounds (VOCs) underlie this ability. Solutions of 5 basic tastants (sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, monosodium glutamate [MSG], quinine) dissolved in water, and 2 fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid) dissolved in mineral oil were prepared. Triangle discrimination tests were performed (n = 41 in duplicate) to assess whether the tastant solutions can be distinguished from blanks (solvents) through ortho- and retronasal olfaction. Participants were able to distinguish all tastant solutions from blank through orthonasal olfaction. Only sucrose, sodium chloride, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were distinguished from blank by retronasal olfaction. Ethyl dichloroacetate, methylene chloride, and/or acetone were identified in the headspace of sucrose, MSG, and quinine solutions but not in the headspace of water, sodium chloride, and citric acid solutions. Fat oxidation compounds such as alcohols and aldehydes were detected in the headspace of the oleic and linoleic acid solutions but not the mineral oil. We conclude that prototypical tastant solutions can be discriminated from water and fatty acid solutions from mineral oil through orthonasal olfaction. Differences in the volatile headspace composition between blanks and tastant solutions may have facilitated the olfactory discrimination. These findings can have methodological implications for future studies assessing gustatory perception using these prototypical taste compounds.

Frequent oil baths and skin barrier during infancy in the PreventADALL study.

BACKGROUND: In the general population randomized controlled trial PreventADALL, frequent emollient bath additives from 2 weeks of age did not prevent atopic dermatitis, while the effect on skin barrier function throughout infancy is not established. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this exploratory substudy was to assess the effect of mineral-based oil baths on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and dry skin through infancy, and secondarily to explore if filaggrin (FLG) mutations modified the effect. METHODS: Overall, 2153 infants were included and randomized to either the 'Skin intervention' (SI) group (n = 995) (oil bath 4 times weekly from 2 weeks through 8 months) or 'No skin intervention' (NSI) group (n = 1158), with TEWL measurements at 3, 6 and/or 12 months of age. Information on FLG mutation status was available for 1683 of these infants. Effects of the skin intervention on TEWL and dry skin through infancy were assessed by mixed-effects regression modelling. Background characteristics and protocol adherence were collected from electronic questionnaires, birth records and weekly diaries. RESULTS: The TEWL (95% confidence interval) was on average 0.42 g m-2 h-1 (0.13-0.70, P = 0.004) higher in the SI group compared with the NSI group through the first year of life, with significantly higher levels at 3 months [8.6 (8.3-9.0) vs. 7.6 (7.3-7.9)], but similar at 6 and 12 months. Dry skin was observed significantly more often in the NSI group compared with the SI group at 3 months (59% vs. 51%) and at 6 months of age (63% vs. 53%), while at 12 months of age, the difference was no longer significant. At 3 months, the TEWL of FLG mutation carriers was similar to the TEWL in the SI group. No interaction between SI and FLG mutation was found in the first year of life. CONCLUSIONS: Infants given frequent oil baths from 2 weeks of age had reduced skin barrier function through infancy compared with controls, largely attributed to higher TEWL at 3 months of age, while the skin at 3 and 6 months appeared less dry in infants subjected to the skin intervention.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects approximately 20% of children in industrialized countries. AD causes dry, itchy skin and can increase the chance of infections. This study was a substudy of the large Scandinavian PreventADALL trial, including 2394 infants, recruited from the general population between 2014 and 2016. Children in this trial were allocated randomly to receive either a skin intervention, food intervention, combined intervention, or no intervention. Children were examined at 3, 6 and 12 months of age. The examinations involved an investigation of the skin, to evaluate dry skin and skin barrier function by transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the outer layers of the skin (higher TEWL suggests decreased skin barrier function). The skin intervention consisted of oil baths at least 4 times per week from 2 weeks of age through 8 months of age, and have previously not been shown to prevent AD by 1 and 3 years of age. We aimed to investigate whether frequent oil baths had any effect on TEWL and dry skin. We found that the skin intervention increased TEWL in the first year of life, especially at 3 months of age. Dry skin was less common in the skin intervention groups compared with the groups with no skin intervention. Infants with mutations in the gene coding for a skin barrier protein, called filaggrin, were associated with increased TEWL; however, in the skin intervention group, TEWL was similar among the infants with or without filaggrin mutations. Our findings suggest that oil baths several times per week from early infancy transiently decreases skin barrier function.

Adjuvant screening of the Senecavirus A inactivated vaccine in mice and evaluation of its immunogenicity in pigs.

BACKGROUND: Senecavirus A (SVA) causes an emerging vesicular disease (VD) with clinical symptoms indistinguishable from other vesicular diseases, including vesicular stomatitis (VS), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and swine vesicular disease (SVD). Currently, SVA outbreaks have been reported in Canada, the U.S.A, Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Colombia, and China. Based on the experience of prevention and control of FMDV, vaccines are the best means to prevent SVA transmission. RESULTS: After preparing an SVA inactivated vaccine (CH-GX-01-2019), we evaluated the immunogenicity of the SVA inactivated vaccine mixed with Imject® Alum (SVA + AL) or Montanide ISA 201 (SVA + 201) adjuvant in mice, as well as the immunogenicity of the SVA inactivated vaccine combined with Montanide ISA 201 adjuvant in post-weaned pigs. The results of the mouse experiment showed that the immune effects in the SVA + 201 group were superior to that in the SVA + AL group. Results from pigs immunized with SVA inactivated vaccine combined with Montanide ISA 201 showed that the immune effects were largely consistent between the SVA-H group (200 µg) and SVA-L group (50 µg); the viral load in tissues and blood was significantly reduced and no clinical symptoms occurred in the vaccinated pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Montanide ISA 201 is a better adjuvant choice than the Imject® Alum adjuvant in the SVA inactivated vaccine preparation, and the CH-GX-01-2019 SVA inactivated vaccine can provide effective protection for pigs.

Occupational Risk Factors for Skin Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Public health and clinical medicine should identify and characterize modifiable risk factors for skin cancer in order to facilitate primary prevention. In existing literature, the impact of occupational exposure on skin cancer, including malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, has been extensively studied. This review summarizes the available epidemiological evidence on the significance of occupational risk factors and occupations associated with a higher risk in skin cancer. The results of this review suggest that there is sufficient epidemiological evidence to support the relationship between the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers and occupational exposure to solar radiation, ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, arsenic and its compounds, and mineral oils. Occupational exposure to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls appears to provide sufficient epidemiological evidence for melanoma, and a higher risk of melanoma has been reported among workers in petroleum refining and firefighters. This comprehensive analysis will establish a foundation for subsequent investigations and developing targeted interventions of focused preventive measures against skin cancer among the working population.

Prediction of size-selective permitted daily exposures for mineral oil mist based on an in vitro study in different scenarios.

The incidence of DNA damage from exposure to specific types of metalworking fluids has been reported. In this research, size-selective permissible limits to prevent genotoxic damage in A549 cell lines exposed to two types of mineral oil were estimated for the first time using a benchmark dose approach and extrapolated to workers. The comet assay was performed based on Olive and Banath protocol to determine DNA damage. Then, the Benchmark Dose, the 95% lower bound confidence limit BMD, and the 95% upper-bound confidence limit BMD were determined using continuous response data. Finally, the four Benchmark Dose levels reported in the A549 cell line were extrapolated to the human population in occupational settings in two phases. This study showed when determining the permissible limits, the type used or unused, the type of injury, the organ affected in the body and the size of the particles should also be considered.

Efficiency of natural oils as alternative adjuvants to mineral oils in inactivated avian influenza vaccine formulation.

1. The effectiveness of inactivated vaccines depends on selecting the suitable adjuvant for vaccine formulation. The potency of vaccines with low antigen content can be improved with the appropriate adjuvant. This could allow production of more doses and lower the production cost.2. This study evaluated the efficiency of vaccines prepared using oil extracted from natural sources including argan oil, almond oil, sesame seed oil, pumpkin oil, cactus oil and black seed oil as alternative adjuvants for improving the protection capacity of inactivated influenza virus vaccine as compared to commonly used mineral oils.3. Each vaccine formulation was evaluated for stability, safety and immunogenicity in chickens, as well as for reducing the viral shedding after challenge infection.4. The cactus, sesame and pumpkin seed oil-based vaccines were found to be potent and successfully induced the production of humoral immunity in vaccinated chickens.

[Molding matrix formulation of hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized traditional Chinese medicine preparations].

This study aims to optimize the matrix formulation for the hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations and verify the applicability of the formulation. The central composite design in JMP Pro 16.1.0 was employed to optimize the dosages of styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer(SIS), hydrogenated petroleum resin, and lightweight liquid paraffin, with the fine powder of Yipifang as the model drug(drug loading of 10%) and the sensory score and objective evaluation as the comprehensive evaluation indicators. The quality evaluation system of hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster of personalized TCM preparations was established. The applicability of the optimized matrix formulation of hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plaster was verified with 16 TCM preparations for external application. Furthermore, the applicability of the matrix formulation was investigated with different drug loadings. The general molding matrix formulation was SIS∶hydrogenated petroleum resin∶lightweight liquid paraffin 3∶3∶5. The optimized matrix formulation showed good molding properties and high quality scores for 16 TCM preparations and were suitable for the plastering of finely powdered decoction pieces with a loading capacity of 10% to 30%. The results suggest that the optimized matrix formulation has good applicability and is suitable for TCM preparations. The findings lay a foundation for the application and promotion of the hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive plasters of personalized TCM preparations.

Effects of Randomized Treatment With Icosapent Ethyl and a Mineral Oil Comparator on Interleukin-1ß, Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Homocysteine, Lipoprotein(a), and Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2: A REDUCE-IT Biomarker Substudy.

BACKGROUND: REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl-Intervention Trial) reported a 25% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events with use of icosapent ethyl compared with pharmaceutical grade mineral oil. The mechanisms underlying this benefit remain uncertain. We explored whether treatment allocation in REDUCE-IT might affect a series of biomarkers in pathways known to associate with atherosclerosis risk. METHODS: Serum levels of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were measured at baseline, at 12 months, at 24 months, and at the end-of-study visit among REDUCE-IT participants with triglyceride levels ≥135 mg/dL and <500 mg/dL who were randomly allocated to treatment with either 4 grams daily of icosapent ethyl or mineral oil used as a comparator. RESULTS: At baseline, median levels of each biomarker were similar in the 2 treatment groups. The levels of biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis increased over time among those allocated to mineral oil treatment; in this group at 12 months, the median percent increases from baseline were 1.5% for homocysteine, 2.2% for lipoprotein(a), 10.9% for oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 16.2% for interleukin-6, 18.5% for lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, 21.9% for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and 28.9% for interleukin-1ß (all P values <0.001), with similar changes at 24 months. In the icosapent ethyl group, there were minimal changes in these biomarkers at 12 and 24 months. As such, at study conclusion, between-group treatment differences largely reflected increases in the mineral oil group with median percent differences of 2.4% for lipoprotein(a), 3.0% for homocysteine, 4.2% for oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 19.8% for interleukin-6, 26.2% for Lp-PLA2, 38.5% for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and 48.7% for interleukin-1ß (all P values ≤0.007). These data are consistent with previous REDUCE-IT results in which the median percent change for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 12 months was -1.2% among those allocated to icosapent ethyl and 10.9% among those allocated to the mineral oil comparator. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants in REDUCE-IT, allocation to icosapent ethyl had minimal effects on a series of biomarkers associated with atherosclerotic disease, whereas levels increased among those allocated to mineral oil. The effect of these findings on interpretation of the overall risk reductions in clinical events observed within REDUCE-IT is uncertain. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT01492361.

Bent-Capillary-Centrifugal-Driven Monodisperse Droplet Generator with Its Application for Digital LAMP Assay.

We developed a bent-capillary-centrifugal-driven (BCCD) monodisperse droplet generator, which could achieve a perfect combination of driving and segmentation for the dispersed phase only using a rotating bent capillary immersed in the continuous phase (mineral oil). The sample could flow continuously to the bent-capillary outlet to form the droplet precursors, which were segmented into homogeneous droplets in the continuous phase. Through the investigation of influence factors on droplet size and stability, we found that the droplet size could be conveniently controlled by the rotational speed of the bent capillary. The droplet volumes could be adjusted with the range from 34 pL to 1 µL, and the coefficient variations (CVs) were less than 3%. Meanwhile, the BCCD droplet generator could realize the controllable droplet output with a high-efficiency sample utilization of 99.75 ± 1.15%, which offered a significant advantage in reducing the waste of precious samples in the droplet generation process. We validated this system with a digital loop-mediated isothermal amplification (dLAMP) assay for the absolute quantification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acids. The results demonstrated that the BCCD droplet generator was easy to build, was of low cost, and was convenient to operate, as well as avoided sample loss and cross-contamination by coupling with a 96-well plate. Overall, the present platform, as a simple chip-free droplet generator, will provide an especially valuable droplet generation solution for biochemical applications based on droplets.

Occurrence and Formation Mechanism of PCDD/Fs and SCCPs in Chlorinated Paraffin Products.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) can be formed during the production of chlorinated paraffins (CPs). Detection and accurate quantification of PCDD/Fs in CPs are challenging because of their matrix complexity. Therefore, the occurrence and formation mechanisms of PCDD/Fs from CPs have not been studied extensively in the past. In this study, 15 commercial samples including solid and liquid CPs were collected in 2022 from China. The average ΣSCCP concentrations detected in the solid and liquid CPs were 158 and 137 mg/g, respectively. The average International Toxic Equivalent (I-TEQ) values of 2,3,7,8-PCDD/F in solid and liquid CPs were 15.8 pg I-TEQ/g and 15.0 pg I-TEQ/g, respectively. The solid and liquid CPs had different predominant congener groups for SCCPs and PCDD/Fs. Possible formation routes for the generation of PCDD/Fs were analyzed by screening precursors in paraffin and laboratory-scale thermochemical experiments of CPs. The transformation between 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and non-2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs was recognized by calculating the successive chlorination preference. The first reported occurrence of PCDD/Fs in CP commercial products indicated that exposure to CPs and downstream products might be an assignable source of PCDD/F emission, which is of great significance to further explore the control factors of PCDD/Fs in the whole life cycle of CPs.

Synergistic Effect of Two Nanotechnologies Enhances the Protective Capacity of the Theileria parva Sporozoite p67C Antigen in Cattle.

East Coast fever (ECF), caused by Theileria parva, is the most important tick-borne disease of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. Practical disadvantages associated with the currently used live-parasite vaccine could be overcome by subunit vaccines. An 80-aa polypeptide derived from the C-terminal portion of p67, a sporozoite surface Ag and target of neutralizing Abs, was the focus of the efforts on subunit vaccines against ECF and subjected to several vaccine trials with very promising results. However, the vaccination regimen was far from optimized, involving three inoculations of 450 µg of soluble p67C (s-p67C) Ag formulated in the Seppic adjuvant Montanide ISA 206 VG. Hence, an improved formulation of this polypeptide Ag is needed. In this study, we report on two nanotechnologies that enhance the bovine immune responses to p67C. Individually, HBcAg-p67C (chimeric hepatitis B core Ag virus-like particles displaying p67C) and silica vesicle (SV)-p67C (s-p67C adsorbed to SV-140-C18, octadecyl-modified SVs) adjuvanted with ISA 206 VG primed strong Ab and T cell responses to p67C in cattle, respectively. Coimmunization of cattle (Bos taurus) with HBcAg-p67C and SV-p67C resulted in stimulation of both high Ab titers and CD4 T cell response to p67C, leading to the highest subunit vaccine efficacy we have achieved to date with the p67C immunogen. These results offer the much-needed research depth on the innovative platforms for developing effective novel protein-based bovine vaccines to further the advancement.

Lack of human-relevant adversity of MOSH retained in tissues: Analysis of adversity and implications for regulatory assessment.

Mineral oils (food grade white oil or liquid paraffin) have historically been safely used in a number of sensitive end-uses, including pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food. Recent concern that certain mineral hydrocarbons (branched and cyclo-alkanes) may accumulate in human tissues has prevented European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) from deriving guidance values for food exposures. Analysis of human and animal tissue indicate that an unresolved cloud of mostly highly branched alkanes and alkylated cycloalkanes within the C20-C35 range is consistently present in all tissues. This critical review thoroughly assesses the retention of "mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons" (MOSH) in human and animal tissues and evaluates if the presence of MOSH is considered adverse and appropriate to use for risk assessment, generation of guidance values for food exposure and/or generation of derivation of health-based guidance values. An adversity framework was utilized to perform an in-depth weight of the evidence analysis, and it was concluded that mere presence of MOSH does not translate to hazard identification, and is not considered adverse. In light of this conclusion, it would not be appropriate to utilize this endpoint as the point of departure to calculate a health guidance value.

Method validation and residue determination of mineral oil Arbofine in apple and soil using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection under temperate conditions of Kashmir, India.

This innovative study was carried out to determine the presence of the mineral oil Arbofine in apple and soil at four locations. Arbofine kills the vast majority of dormant insects and mites (mite and asphid eggs, scales and psyllids) on fruit trees (cherry, apple, plum and peach) and thus reduces the plant diseases in summer. In this study, the mineral oil was sprayed at recommended doses of 2.0 and 0.75%, and the doses were doubled to 4.0 and 1.5% in dormant and summer seasons, respectively. The soil samples were taken for observation during the dormant season, whereas both soil and apple samples were taken during the summer season after treatment for 0, 1, 3 and 5 days. The recovery study of all the 11 paraffinic constituents (n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane, n-undecane, n-dodecane, n-tridecane, n-tetradecane and n-pentadecane) in soil and apple samples which constitutes 60% of mineral oil in soil and apple was carried out at the fortification level of 1.0 µg/ml, which was found to be between 72.1% and 99.0%. No residue of all the 11 paraffinic compounds of Arbofine mineral oil was detected in soil and apple samples at day 0 after the recommended doses, and the recommended doses were doubled in both seasons at four locations. Therefore, mineral oil can be used on apples without any risk.

Estrogen signaling encourages blastocyst development and implantation potential.

PURPOSE: Estrogen is well-known for preparing uterine receptivity. However, its roles in regulating embryo development and implantation are unclear. Our objective was to characterize estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) in human and mouse embryos and determine the effect of estradiol (E2) supplementation on pre- and peri-implantation blastocyst development. METHODS: Mouse embryos, 8-cell through hatched blastocyst stages, and human embryonic days 5-7 blastocysts were stained for ESR1 and imaged using confocal microscopy. We then treated 8-cell mouse embryos with 8 nM E2 during in vitro culture (IVC) and examined embryo morphokinetics, blastocyst development, and cell allocation into the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). Finally, we disrupted ESR1, using ICI 182,780, and evaluated peri-implantation development. RESULTS: ESR1 exhibits nuclear localization in early blastocysts followed by aggregation, predominantly in the TE of hatching and hatched blastocysts, in human and mouse embryos. During IVC, most E2 was absorbed by the mineral oil, and no effect on embryo development was found. When IVC was performed without an oil overlay, embryos treated with E2 exhibited increased blastocyst development and ICM:TE ratio. Additionally, embryos treated with ICI 182,780 had significantly decreased trophoblast outgrowth during extended embryo culture. CONCLUSION: Similar ESR1 localization in mouse and human blastocysts suggests a conserved role in blastocyst development. These mechanisms may be underappreciated due to the use of mineral oil during conventional IVC. This work provides important context for how estrogenic toxicants may impact reproductive health and offers an avenue to further optimize human-assisted reproductive technology (ART) to treat infertility.

A new simpler and reliable method for determining mineral oil in sewage sludge: Influence of biogenic compounds for the quantitative analysis of C10-C40 hydrocarbons.

The characterization of organic contaminants in sewage sludge is a fundamental step to address the relevant most appropriate management practice. In this perspective, C10-C40 hydrocarbon content was considered in Italy a crucial parameter to be considered, in spite of its irrelevance in the literature. The very complex mixture of organic substances of both biogenic and anthropogenic origin the sludge is made up of makes sewage sludge a matrix of uniqueness nature, and the analytic determination of hydrocarbon content through conventional procedures may be subjected to overestimation. In this work, optimization of two conventional protocols for the determination of mineral oil (EN14039 and IRSA CNR gravimetric method) were run with attention to anthropogenic compounds potentially affecting the C10-C40 mineral hydrocarbons determination. Effects from the first manipulations of sewage sludge samples to extraction procedure and clean-up operations were investigated. A new simple procedure was set up and tested on 30 samples from different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Through a simple extraction with hexane (12 mL per 2 g of dried sludge, acidified with HCl conc.) at room temperature for 2 h, followed by a clean-up on Florisil column (10 mL-2 g) a confident determination of C10-C40 were obtained with respect to conventional optimized procedures. Variability within the range 0.06-9.49% was calculated with respect to the average value determined using three different methods, with an average value of 2.48 ± 2.37%, demonstrating the robustness of the determination. Up to 3% of the total hydrocarbons were identified as naturally occurring, namely terpenes, squalenes and deoxygenized sterols, passed through the clean-up Florisil column. A significant incidence (up to 75%) of the final overall C10-C40 content was found to be related to the C10-C20 component, originally present in the commercial polyelectrolytes in emulsion, widely used for conditioning before mechanical dewatering.

Characteristics and risk assessment of sewage sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants in Shaanxi Province, China.

In this study, an investigation of important properties, including moisture content, pH, plant nutrients, organic matter, mineral oil, and the contents of heavy metals (HMs) in sewage sludge (SS) collected from 32 urban treatment plants in Shaanxi Province, China, was carried out. The test results showed that the pH and the moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and mineral oil contents of the SS varied over different rainfall periods, and most of the indicators met the standard criteria for SS agricultural reuse in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis indicated that the pollutant characteristics of the SS depended on time span and geographical distribution. The mean contents of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Hg, and As in SS were 3.95, 16.38, 5.43, 7.70, 1.31, 1.53, 32.77, and 1.40 times higher than the soil background values, respectively. Speciation analysis showed that the forms of HMs in the SS were significantly different. Assessments based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), and potential ecological risk index (RI) suggested that HM pollution risk levels were either uncontaminated or moderately contaminated in some regions and that SS recycled for agricultural applications carried a low risk. In conclusion, certain potential ecological risks exist for SS agricultural utilization in Shaanxi Province, and it is necessary to reduce the HM content before SS resource utilization for land application.

A simple and reliable method for separation of mineral oil/polychlorobiphenyl mixtures.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were broadly applied worldwide as electrical insulators in transformers and power capacitors, due to their high dielectric constant and non-flammability. They were often added to mineral oils (MOs) and used as dielectric fluids, which are nowadays classified as hazardous waste. Indeed, the Stockholm Convention aims to eliminate the use of equipment with PCB content greater than 0.005 wt-% (=50 ppm) by 2025. Accurate identification and quantification of small traces of PCBs contained in MO thus represent a great analytical challenge. To achieve this goal, a simple, cost-effective and fast chromatographic process was developed to separate PCBs from MO, allowing to obtain reliable data to determine the concentration of PCBs, reduced to 2-3 ppm. Experimental and analytical methods, such as thin layer chromatography, column chromatography as well as gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, were applied to acquire a high level of qualitative and quantitative determination of PCBs in transformer MOs.

Immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of recombinant H5HA1 protein of clade 2.3.2.1a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus expressed in E.coli.

The global spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in poultry has caused great economic loss to the poultry farmers and industry with significant pandemic threat. The current study involved production of recombinant HA1 protein of clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 HPAIV (rH5HA1) in E.coli and evaluation of its protective efficacy in chickens. Purification under denaturing conditions and refolding by dialysis against buffers containing decreasing concentrations of urea was found to preserve the biological activity of the expressed recombinant protein as assessed by hemagglutination assay, Western blot and ELISA. The Montanide ISA 71 VGA adjuvanted rH5HA1 protein was used for immunization of chickens. Humoral response was maintained at a minimum of 4log2 hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre till 154 days post 2nd booster. We evaluated the protective efficacy of rH5HA1 protein in immunized chickens by challenging them with homologous (2.3.2.1a) and heterologous (2.3.2.1c) clades of H5N1 HPAIV. In both the groups, the HI titre significantly increased (P < 0.05) after challenge and the virus shedding significantly (P < 0.05) reduced between 3rd and 14th day post challenge. The virus shedding ratio in oro-pharyngeal swabs did not differ significantly between both the groups except on 7 days post challenge and during the entire experimental period in cloacal swabs. These results indicate that rH5HA1 was able to induce homologous and cross protective immune response in chickens and could be a potential vaccine candidate used for combating the global spread of H5N1 HPAIV threat. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report immunogenicity and protective efficacy of prokaryotic recombinant H5HA1 protein in chicken.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for cardiovascular risk.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Use of omega-3 fatty acid (OM3FA) supplements to reduce risk of cardiovascular events has been investigated, largely without evidence of meaningful benefit, over the last 4 decades. RECENT FINDINGS: The first contemporary clinical trial to show benefit of OM3FA use was the REDUCE-IT trial (2018), showing a remarkable 25% relative risk reduction in the intervention group that received icosapent ethyl 4 g daily compared to a mineral oil placebo group. The STRENGTH trial (2020), which was similar in design to the REDUCE-IT trial but compared 4 g daily dose of combined OM3FA with a corn oil placebo, was terminated early due to futility. SUMMARY: This article provides a review of the data surrounding these trials and discusses the differing results of the two trials. There are key differences in the design of the two trials, the most notable is the use of mineral oil in the REDUCE-IT trial, which was potentially a nonneutral comparator. Additionally, both trials showed an increase in the incidence of atrial fibrillation. With the unclear benefit of OM3FA supplementation and possibility of harm, the current data suggest that the risk of routine use of OM3FA outweighs the possibility of reduction in risk of cardiovascular events.

Assessment of free radicals and reactive oxygen species milieu in nanoparticles adjuvanted outer membrane proteins vaccine against Salmonella typhi.

In this study, calcium phosphate nanoparticles-based (STCNV) and montanide oil adjuvant vaccine (STOAV) containing outer membrane proteins (Omps) of S. Typhi were evaluated for inducing oxidative stress indicators [reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total protein] in the tissues of mice after vaccination. The GSH levels though slightly high in the liver, kidney, and lungs of STCNV group were not significantly different from STOAV and the control group (STC). There was no significant difference in LPO levels in any group for any tissue. The significantly lower activities of catalase were observed in the kidney and lungs of the STCNV group as compared to STOAV and STC group, while in the liver, STCNV group revealed lower catalase activity in comparison to the control group. No significant difference in the SOD activities between the two vaccinated groups was observed. The total protein contents in all the organs showed no significant difference in the vaccinated and the control group. The vaccines may induce long-term inflammatory response and consequently damage vital organs; this study revealed no long-term oxidative stress in all the three vital organs, suggesting that these vaccines may not cause oxidative damages in the vital organs of mice.