Impact of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles and Ampicillin on Adenosine Triphosphate and Lactate Metabolism in the Cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon.

In cyanobacteria, the interplay of ATP and lactate dynamics underpins cellular energetics; their pronounced shifts in response to zero-valent iron (nZVI) nanoparticles and ampicillin highlight the nuanced metabolic adaptations to environmental challenges. In this study, we investigated the impact of nZVIs and ampicillin on Fremyella diplosiphon cellular energetics as determined by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, intracellular and extracellular lactate levels, and their impact on cell morphology as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. While a significant increase in ATP concentration was observed in 0.8 mg/L ampicillin-treated cells compared to the untreated control, a significant decline was noted in cells treated with 3.2 mg/L nZVIs. ATP levels in the combination regimen of 0.8 mg/L ampicillin and 3.2 mg/L nZVIs were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) compared to the 3.2 mg/L nZVI treatment. Intracellular and extracellular lactate levels were significantly higher in 0.8 mg/L ampicillin, 3.2 mg/L nZVIs, and the combination regimen compared to the untreated control; however, extracellular lactate levels were the highest in cells treated with 3.2 mg/L nZVIs. Visualization of morphological changes indicated increased thylakoid membrane stacks and inter-thylakoidal distances in 3.2 mg/L nZVI-treated cells. Our findings demonstrate a complex interplay of nanoparticle and antibiotic-induced responses, highlighting the differential impact of these stressors on F. diplosiphon metabolism and cellular integrity.

Impact of Ascorbic Acid on Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticle and UV-B Mediated Stress in the Cyanobacterium, Fremyella diplosiphon.

Fremyella diplosiphon is an ideal third-generation biofuel source due to its ability to produce transesterified lipids. While nanofer 25s zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) improve lipid production, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular defense can be catastrophic to the organism. In the present study, the effect of ascorbic acid on nZVI and UV-induced stress in F. diplosiphon strain B481-SD was investigated, and lipid profiles in the combination regimen of nZVIs and ascorbic acid compared. Comparison of F. diplosiphon growth in BG11 media amended with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mM ascorbic acid indicated 6 mM to be optimal for the growth of B481-SD. Further, growth in 6 mM ascorbic acid combined with 3.2 mg/L nZVIs was significantly higher when compared to the combination regimen of 12.8 and 51.2 mg/L of nZVIs and 6 mM ascorbic acid. The reversal effect of UV-B radiation for 30 min and 1 h indicated that ascorbic acid restored B481-SD growth. Transesterified lipids characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated C16 hexadecanoate to be the most abundant fatty acid methyl ester in the combination regimen of 6 mM ascorbic acid and 12.8 mg/L nZVI-treated F. diplosiphon. These findings were supported by microscopic observations in which cellular degradation was observed in B481-SD cells treated with 6 mM ascorbic acid and 12.8 mg/L nZVIs. Our results indicate that ascorbic acid counteracts the damaging effect of oxidative stress produced by nZVIs.

Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles Induce Reactive Oxygen Species in the Cyanobacterium, Fremyella diplosiphon.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) are known to boost biomass production and lipid yield in Fremyella diplosiphon, a model biodiesel-producing cyanobacterium. However, the impact of nZVI-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in F. diplosiphon has not been evaluated. In the present study, ROS in F. diplosiphon strains (B481-WT and B481-SD) generated in response to nZVI-induced oxidative stress were quantified and the enzymatic response determined. Lipid peroxidation as a measure of oxidative stress revealed significantly higher malondialdehyde content (p < 0.01) in both strains treated with 3.2, 12.8, and 51.2 mg L-1 nZVIs compared to untreated control. In addition, ROS in all nZVI-treated cultures treated with 1.6-25.6 mg L-1 nZVIs was significantly higher than the untreated control as determined by the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorometric probe. Immunodetection using densitometric analysis of iron superoxide dismutase (SOD) revealed significantly higher SOD levels in both strains treated with nZVIs at 51.2 mg L-1. In addition, we observed significantly higher (p < 0.001) SOD levels in the B481-SD strain treated with 6.4 mg L-1 nZVIs compared to 3.2 mg L-1 nZVIs. Validation using transmission electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed adsorption of nZVIs with a strong iron peak in both B481-WT and B481-SD strains. While the EDS spectra showed strong signals for iron at 4 and 12 days after treatment, a significant decrease in peak intensity was observed at 20 days. Future efforts will be aimed at studying transduction mechanisms that cause metabolic and epigenetic alterations in response to nZVIs in F. diplosiphon.

Comparison of echocardiographic findings in patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas.

Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are usually discovered incidentally after imaging unrelated to adrenal glands. We aimed to evaluate standard risk factors for systemic atherosclerosis and echocardiographic changes in patients with nonfunctioning AIs and compare them with normal subjects. We evaluated 70 patients diagnosed with AIs and 51 healthy controls. Mean levels were determined for HbA1c, LDL, uric acid, fasting plasma insulin, HOMA, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and these values were found to be significantly higher in the patients than the controls. The mean left atrial diameter, interventricular septum thickness, posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass, E-wave deceleration time, isovolumetric relaxation time, and the median ratio of the early transmittal flow velocity to the early diastolic tissue velocity (E/Em) were higher in patients with AIs compared to controls. The mitral annular early diastolic velocity was lower in patients with AIs. The mean aortic diastolic diameter, stiffness index (SI), and aortic strain were higher, and aortic distensibility was lower in the patients. The mean right ventricular diameter, right atrial major-axis diameter, and right atrial minor-axis diameter were statistically higher in the patient group than the controls. A negative correlation was found between the NLR and aortic strain and aortic distensibility, while a positive correction was found between the NLR and SI. We found altered left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) echocardiographic findings in patients with AIs without known cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness was also increased. These changes may be related to an increase in cardiovascular risk factors in AI patients.

Visceral fat measurement by ultrasound as a non-invasive method - can it be useful in evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis in male patients with hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency?

INTRODUCTION: Growth hormone (GH) deficiency, either isolated or combined with other pituitary hormone deficiencies, is associated with increased mortality and abnormal body composition, particularly visceral adiposity. We aimed to investigate the effects of GH deficiency with or without sex steroid deficiencies on ultrasonographic visceral fat (VF) and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with hypopituitarism on conventional hormone replacement therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty hypopituitarism patients (24 women, 16 men; mean age 48 ± 16.1 years) with GH deficiency and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were stable on conventional hormone replacement but they were not on GH therapy. Patients who had sex steroid replacement were classified as Group 1 (n = 19), and patients who did not use sex steroids were classified as Group 2 (n = 21). Anthropometric measurements were performed. VF in three regions, subcutaneous fat, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured. VF volume was calculated by using a formula. RESULTS: Visceral fat volume and mean CIMT were significantly higher in patients than healthy controls (p = 0.001 and 0.019 respectively). Homocysteine and hs-CRP were higher in patients (p < 0.05). In males, VF volume and VF thickness measured between abdominal muscle and splenic vein were significantly correlated with CIMT (r = 0.54, p = 0.047 and r = 0.66, p = 0.010 respectively). Furthermore, there was a strong positive correlation between VF thickness in pararenal region and homocysteine (r = 0.74, p = 0.001) in males. CONCLUSIONS: VF volume evaluated by ultrasound can be accepted as a cause of subclinical atherosclerosis in GH deficient hypopituitary patients, particularly males.

The frequency of malignancy and the relationship between malignancy and ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.

Various approaches are available for the management of nodules that are evaluated to be indeterminate according to the results of thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy. The present study aimed to determine the rate of malignancy and the ultrasonographic features that could be used as predictor of malignant pathologies at the nodules with indeterminate cytology. A total of 201 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and whose fine needle aspiration biopsy results were evaluated to be Hurthle cell lesion (n = 99), follicular neoplasm (n = 61) and [corrected] suspicious for malignancy (n = 41) were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 178 were females (88.6 %) and 23 were males (11.4 %). The rates of malignancy were found to be 33.3 % in the Hurthle cell lesion group, 23.0 % in the follicular neoplasm group and 53.7 % in the suspicious for malignancy group (p = 0.006). The comparison of the ultrasonographic characteristics of the malignant and benign nodules revealed hypoechogenicity and microcalcification to be more common in malignant nodules (34.3 vs. 16.9 %, p = 0.005; 27.1 vs. 13.1 %, p = 0.014; respectively). While 92.3 % of the malignant nodules were ≥1 cm, 82.9 % of the benign nodules were ≥1 cm (p = 0.042). We believe that as the patients at Hurthle cell lesion group have higher risk of malignancy than the patients with Follicular Neoplasia so total thyroidectomy will be suitable for these patients. [corrected]. In addition, microcalcification and hypoechoic nodules at patients with indeterminate cytology can be related with increased risk of malignancy. [corrected].

A Case of Primary Hyperparathyroidism due to Intrathyroidal Parathyroid Cyst.

Parathyroid cysts constitute 0.08-3.41% of all parathyroid masses. Intrathyroidal parathyroid cysts, however, are rare conditions with only a few cases being reported. Most of the parathyroid cysts are found to be nonfunctional and functional cysts are generally thought to be due to cystic degeneration of parathyroid adenomas. A cystic, smooth contoured lesion of 24 × 19 × 16 mm was observed in left thyroid lobe of a 76-year-old woman during ultrasonography which was performed as routine workup for primary hyperparathyroidism. It was defined as a cystic thyroid nodule at first. Tc(99m) sestamibi scintigraphy was performed to see any parathyroid lesions, but no radioactive uptake was observed. Intact parathormone (iPTH) level was found to be >600 pg/mL in cyst aspiration fluid. Left lobectomy was performed, with a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism due to functional parathyroid cyst. Serum iPTH level was decreased >50% postoperatively and histopathological evaluation was consistent with an encapsulated parathyroid adenoma with a cystic center. Parathyroid cysts are among rare causes of primary hyperparathyroidism. Diagnosis is made by markedly increased iPTH level in cyst fluid and observation of parathyroid epithelium lining the cyst wall.

Hydatid cyst presenting as an eosinophilic pleural effusion.

A 61-year-old woman presented with an eosinophilic pleural effusion, secondary to transdiaphragmatic intrapleural spread of an hepatic hydatid cyst. Right posterolateral thoracotomy and frenotomy revealed a loculated pleural effusion associated with a 10 x 8 cm hydatid cyst in the posterior segment of the liver. Hydatid disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic pleural effusions in endemic regions.