Essential (Mg,Fe, Zn and Cu) and Non-Essential (Cd and Pb) Elements in Predatory Insects (Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina): A Molecular Perspective

The recent introduction of the Asian yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, into Europe has raised concern regarding the threat to honeybees and the competition with the European hornet, Vespa crabro. The aim of this study was to investigated essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu) and non-essential (Cd and Pb) elements in these two species. Element concentrations were determined in the whole body and separately in the head, thorax and abdomen using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The changes in essential element concentration and speciation during metamorphosis were also studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by AAS and proteomic analysis. In both species, the essential elements were more concentrated in the abdomen due to the presence of fat bodies. Magnesium, Fe and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in V. crabro than in V. velutina and could have been related to the higher aerobic energy demand of the former species required to sustain foraging flight. Low concentrations of Cd and Pb were indicative of low environmental exposure. The concentration and speciation of essential elements, particularly Fe, varied among the developmental stages, indicating a modification of ligand preferences during metamorphosis. Overall, the results in the present study provide a better understanding of the hornet metal metabolism and a foundation for additional studies.     

Milk from cows fed a diet with a high forage:concentrate ratio improves inflammatory state,oxidative stress,and mitochondrial function in rats

Excessive energy intake may evoke complex biochemical processes characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and impairment of mitochondrial function that represent the main factors underlying noncommunicable diseases. Because cow milk is widely used for human nutrition and in food industry processing, the nutritional quality of milk is of special interest with respect to human health. In our study, we analyzed milk produced by dairy cows fed a diet characterized by a high forage:concentrate ratio (high forage milk, HFM). In view of the low n-6:n-3 ratio and high content of conjugated linoleic acid of HFM, we studied the effects of this milk on lipid metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in a rat model. To this end, we supplemented for 4 wk the diet of male Wistar rats with HFM and with an isocaloric amount (82 kJ, 22 mL/d) of milk obtained from cows fed a diet with low forage:concentrate ratio, and analyzed the metabolic parameters of the animals. Our results indicate that HFM may positively affect lipid metabolism, leptin:adiponectin ratio, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress, providing the first evidence of the beneficial effects of HFM on rat metabolism.     

Aspects of nucleosomal positional flexibility and fluidity

Nucleosomes have been considered until recently to be stable and uniquely localized particles. We focus here on two properties of nucleosomes that are emerging as central attributes of their functions: mobility and multiplicity of localization. The biological relevance of these phenomena is based on the fact that chromatin functions depend on the relative stability of nucleosomes, on their covalent or conformational modifications, their dynamics, their localization, and the density of their distribution. In order to understand these complex behaviors both the structure of the nucleosome core particles and the informational rules governing their interaction with defined DNA sequences are here taken into consideration. The fact that nucleosomes solve the problem of how to locate a specific interaction site on a potentially infinite combination of sequences, with interactions recurring to a controlled level of informational ambiguity and stochasticity, is discussed. Nucleosomes have been shown to slide along DNA. This novel facet of their behavior and its implications in chromatin remodeling are reviewed.     

Comparative toxicity of nanostructured alumina and a commercial inert dust for Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) at varying ambient humidity levels

The widespread concern for environmental and human health has raised the need for new reduced-risk control strategies and the search for new chemical classes of pesticides. Recently, a novel type of particulate material, nanostructured alumina (NSA) has been found to induce mortality in insects exposed to wheat treated with NSA dust. Preliminary studies have shown insecticidal activity of NSA particles on two insect species, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Rhyzopertha dominica, (F.), major pests of stored grain. We investigated the toxicity of NSA and Protect-It^® diatomaceous earth (DE) using dry dust applications at three different relative ambient humidity levels. Results showed that NSA was more effective in killing S. oryzae than Protect-It^® and was equally toxic to R. dominica. Treatment with both products also reduced progeny production. In addition, R. dominica was less susceptible to inert dusts than S. oryzae. Our results suggest that NSA might prove a good alternative or complement to DE based products, and encourage further testing with other insect pests and systems, plus experiments on delivery options to further enhance NSA products.     

Precooked sorghum flour as proper vehicle of ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory sorghum peptides

Sorghum flour was heat treated for producing an instant dispersion ingredient. The precooked sorghum flour was added with ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory sorghum peptides (3.0 g peptide 100 g⁻¹). The product was reconstituted in water, and peptide bioaccessibility was evaluated by equilibrium dialysis method after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Total peptide dialysability of precooked sorghum flour added with sorghum peptides was higher than those obtained for precooked sorghum flour (315.9 ± 14.8 vs. 45.2 ± 5.6 µmol, respectively) (P < 0.05). The ACE-I and DPP-IV-IC₅₀ values of the bioaccessible peptides from the bioactive product were lower than those obtained for precooked sorghum flour ingredient (1.04 ± 0.12 vs. 1.82 ± 0.09 and 0.86 ± 0.02 vs. 2.12 ± 0.08 mg protein mL⁻¹, for ACE-I and DPP-IV, respectively) indicating a higher activity. Precooked sorghum flour was a good vehicle since it did not affect the bioaccessibility of ACE-I and DPP-IV inhibitory peptides provided by sorghum protein hydrolysate.     

Shape and Size-Tailored Pd Nanocrystals to Study the Structure Sensitivity of 2-Methyl-3-butyn-2-ol Hydrogenation: Effect of the Stabilizing Agent

Uniform Pd nanocrystals of cubic, octahedral and cube-octahedral shapes were synthesized via a solution-phase method using two stabilizers: poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and di-2-ethylhexylsulfoccinate (AOT) and tested in the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol. The AOT-stabilized Pd nanocrystals were found to be an order of magnitude more active, but less selective than those stabilized by PVP. This could be attributed to a stronger interaction of PVP with surface Pd by adsorbed N-containing groups. The results obtained were rationalized applying a two-site Langmuir?CHinshelwood kinetic model that allowed predicting 3?C4?nm cubic or octahedral nanocrystals stabilized by AOT as the optimum active phase ensuring the highest production rate of target MBE.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Pharmaco-Toxicological Characterization of 1-Cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene Derivatives in Mice: Comparison with Tramadol and PCP

1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS), first discovered in Europe in 2012 as unknown racemic mixture of its three stereoisomers: ortho, meta and para. Each of these has structural similarities with the analgesic tramadol and the dissociative anesthetic phencyclidine. In light of these structural analogies, and based on the fact that both tramadol and phencyclidine are substances that cause toxic effects in humans, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic profile of these molecules, and to compare them with those caused by tramadol and phencyclidine. In vitro studies demonstrated that tramadol, ortho, meta and para were inactive at mu, kappa and delta opioid receptors. Systemic administration of the three stereoisomers impairs sensorimotor responses, modulates spontaneous motor activity, induces modest analgesia, and alters thermoregulation and cardiorespiratory responses in the mouse in some cases, with a similar profile to that of tramadol and phencyclidine. Naloxone partially prevents only the visual sensorimotor impairments caused by three stereoisomers, without preventing other effects. The present data show that 1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene derivatives cause pharmaco-toxicological effects by activating both opioid and non-opioid mechanisms and suggest that their use could potentially lead to abuse and bodily harm.