The Gut-Brain Axis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease—Current and Future Perspectives

The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system driven by neural, hormonal, metabolic, immunological, and microbial signals. Signaling events from the gut can modulate brain function and recent evidence suggests that the gut–brain axis may play a pivotal role in linking gastrointestinal and neurological diseases. Accordingly, accumulating evidence has suggested a link between inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and neurodegenerative, as well as neuroinflammatory diseases. In this context, clinical, epidemiological and experimental data have demonstrated that IBD predisposes a person to pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS). Likewise, a number of neurological disorders are associated with changes in the intestinal environment, which are indicative for disease-mediated gut–brain inter-organ communication. Although this axis was identified more than 20 years ago, the sequence of events and underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. The emergence of precision medicine has uncovered the need to take into account non-intestinal symptoms in the context of IBD that could offer the opportunity to tailor therapies to individual patients. The aim of this review is to highlight recent findings supporting the clinical and biological link between the gut and brain, as well as its clinical significance for IBD as well as neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Finally, we focus on novel human-specific preclinical models that will help uncover disease mechanisms to better understand and modulate the function of this complex system.     

Effect of Hot Rolling on Grain Refining Performance of Al–5Ti–1B Master Alloy on Hot Tearing on Al–7Si–3Cu Alloy

It has been known experimentally that TiAl₃ acts as a powerful nucleant for the solidification of aluminum from the melt; however, a full microscopic understanding is still lacking. To improve microscopic understanding, hot rolling technique has been performed to the Al–5Ti–1B alloy and the effect of shape and size of the particles on grain refinement has been studied. The effect of hot rolling of Al–5Ti–1B master alloy on its grain refining performance and hot tearing have been studied by OM, XRD, and SEM. Hot rolling improves the grain refining performance of this master alloy, which is required to reduce hot tearing in Al–7Si–3Cu alloy. The improvement in grain refining performance of Al–5Ti–1B master alloy on rolling is due to the fracture of larger TiAl₃ particles into fine particles during rolling. The presented results illustrate that the morphology of TiAl₃ particles alter from the plate-like structure in the as-cast condition Al–5Ti–1B master alloy to the blocky type after rolling due to the fragmentation of plate-like structures. The grain refining response and effect on hot tearing of Al–7Si–3Cu alloy have been studied with as-cast and rolled Al–5Ti–1B master alloys. The results display hot-rolled master alloys revealing enhanced grain refining performance and minimizing hot tear tendency of the alloy at much lower addition level as compared to as-cast master alloys.     

Design provisions for crack spacing and width in RC elements externally bonded with FRP

Verification of serviceability is a key issue in reinforced concrete (RC) elements; for RC elements externally bonded with fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates and sheets cracking phenomena are usually verified by adopting the same approach used for steel RC elements. The available code provisions for crack width and spacing in steel RC elements are reviewed in this paper in order to ascertain the reliability of their application to RC elements strengthened with FRP sheets. Experimental results belonging to test programmes performed by the authors and other researchers on RC elements externally bonded with FRP were compared with existing code provisions in terms of crack width and spacing.A new formula for crack spacing, calibrated on the experimental results, is proposed for use in the expression given by the published version of EC2 for calculating crack width in RC elements externally bonded with FRP.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae Infection in Atherosclerotic Lesion Development through Oxidative Stress: A Brief Overview

Chlamydia pneumoniae, an obligate intracellular pathogen, is known as a leading cause of respiratory tract infections and, in the last two decades, has been widely associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiological studies, and direct detection of the microorganism within atheroma. C. pneumoniae is presumed to play a role in atherosclerosis for its ability to disseminate via peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to replicate and persist within vascular cells, and for its pro-inflammatory and angiogenic effects. Once inside the vascular tissue, C. pneumoniae infection has been shown to induce the production of reactive oxygen species in all the cells involved in atherosclerotic process such as macrophages, platelets, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to oxidative stress. The aim of this review is to summarize the data linking C. pneumoniae-induced oxidative stress to atherosclerotic lesion development.     

Volatiles and Tendency of Radical Formation of Cold‐Pressed Brazil Nut Oil During Ambient Storage

Cold‐pressed Brazil nut oil (BNO) is a value‐added nontimber forest coproduct of market interest, despite the lack of knowledge about its ambient storage stability. The objective of the present study was to investigate oxidative changes in BNO stored in clear and brown glass bottles under retail conditions with a focus on monitoring for the first time the formation of volatile aroma compounds (VAC), the depletion of tocopherol analogs, and the tendency of radical formation. VAC, whose formation continuously increased and correlated with storage time, were detected using headspace‐solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Depletion of tocopherols was more pronounced for the oil stored in clear glass bottles and the content loss was higher for alpha‐tocopherol than for gamma‐tocopherol. Furthermore, the tendency of radical formation was detected using a spin‐trapping electron spin resonance spectroscopy method, which was demonstrated to be a simpler, faster, and less sample‐demanding tool to monitor the oxidative status of BNO stored under retail conditions and its results significantly correlated with those obtained using traditional methods for the determination of primary oxidation products. However, the simultaneous measurement of key off‐flavor volatiles is recommended for samples with unknown history.     

Improving Waste Cooking Oil Quality for Biodiesel Production with the Ethanolic By-product of Soybean Oil Extraction

Waste cooking oils (WCO) can be used as feedstock for biodiesel (fatty acid ethyl or methyl esters—FAEE or FAME) production. Their usual high acidity, high moisture, and low stability can impair the reaction yield and generate a low-quality biodiesel. Here, we performed liquid–liquid washings using WCO and ethanol-based solvents with the goal of generating oil-rich miscella as FAEE feedstocks with a higher quality than WCO. Three different solvents were evaluated: 99% ethanol, 95% ethanol, and the soybean oil extraction ethanolic phase (SEP), a by-product with immense unexplored antioxidant potential obtained by extracting soybean oil using ethanol. Washings were performed in a 1000 mL flat-bottom flask at 78.1 °C, using a 1:2 (w/v) oil/solvent ratio, under magnetic stirring (1200 rpm) for 10 min. Ethyl esters were prepared via homogeneous alkali transesterification using WCO and oil-rich miscella as feedstocks. Treatments reduced the acid value by 40–61% and the peroxide value by 15–50%. Improvements in feedstock quality generated 24–54% higher biodiesel yields. The oil-rich phase produced with SEP was 15% more resistant to oxidation than WCO. This was attributed to the transference of isoflavones from the SEP. However, biodiesel from treated samples presented equal or lower oxidative stability than FAEE from WCO. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that no isoflavones remained in biodiesel after purification. Pretreatment of WCO with ethanol-based extracts such as the SEP has great potential to improve WCO quality for biodiesel production as it can be a source of plant-based antioxidants.     

Prenatal exposure to mercury in a prospective mother-infant cohort study in a Mediterranean area, Valencia, Spain

BACKGROUND: Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous pollutant that negatively affects fetal and child neurodevelopment at accidental high-dose exposure. Some studies indicate that Mediterranean populations could be at risk of prenatal exposure to mercury through fish consumption. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prenatal exposure to total mercury (T-Hg), both inorganic and organic, in newborns by analyzing the T-Hg concentration in cord blood, and to evaluate the role of maternal fish consumption in this exposure. METHODS: In the context of a multi-center project (INMA project), a prospective birth cohort was set up in Valencia, Spain, from 2005 to 2006. A total of 253 newborns were included in this study. We compared cord blood T-Hg concentration by levels of fish intake assessed by a food frequency questionnaire completed at 28-32 weeks of gestation. Maternal covariates were obtained through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The geometric mean of T-Hg at birth was 9.9 microg/L (95% CI: 9.0, 10.8). Seventy five percent of cord blood samples were above the estimated level assumed to be without appreciable harm (5.8 microg/L). Women who consumed a portion of large oily fish, lean fish, or mixed fried fish two or more times per week had mean cord blood levels 1.6, 1.4 and 1.3 times higher, respectively, than those who rarely or never consumed fish. Other factors such as the mother's age, country of origin, smoking and season of delivery were also significantly and independently associated with cord blood T-Hg concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Newborns from a Mediterranean area presented elevated levels of T-Hg in cord blood. Higher concentrations of T-Hg were related to maternal fish intake, particularly in the case of large oily fish species.     

ω‐3 in meat products: benefits and effects on lipid oxidative stability

Although ω‐3 intake has been associated with numerous health benefits, its addition to certain food matrices, and in particular meat products, may involve various technological barriers influencing the final quality of the products. Lipid oxidation must be highlighted due to the modification of both the sensory characteristics and the shelf‐life of meat products. In order to reduce the impact of chemical changes and promote oxidative stability, the use of natural antioxidants has gained ground owing to the health and safety advantages linked to its effectiveness at reducing lipid oxidation. Many natural compounds have also been successfully tested in animal feed, in order to protect the raw meat materials and reduce the risk of lipid oxidation in processed products. This review aims to address the challenges and advantages of the incorporation of ω‐3 fatty acids in raw meat materials and processed meat products, and to describe the use of different compounds to enhance lipid oxidative stability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of the sea rush Juncus maritimus on metal concentration and speciation in estuarine sediment colonized by the plant

Metal accumulation by Juncus maritimus and the role of this plant on the physical and chemical composition of sediments, from the Douro river estuary (NW Portugal), were investigated. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined (by atomic absorption spectrophotometry) in sediments, rhizosediments (those among plant roots and rhizomes), and different plant tissues (roots, rhizomes, leaves, and stems). Metal fractionation in sediments through sequential extraction was carried out and used for interpretation of sediment/J. maritimus interactions. Two estuarine sites with different characteristics were studied: site I displayed sandy sediment with lower organic matter and metals more weakly bound to it than site II sediment, which was muddy. At both sites, higher metal contents were observed in rhizosediments than in the surrounding sediment, but metals were more weakly bound to rhizosediment. Therefore, J. maritimus markedly influenced the sediments among its roots and rhizomes, changing metal distribution and speciation. Different patterns of both metal uptake and metal distribution among J. maritimus tissues were observed at the two sites. Plant bioaccumulation was only observed for Cd, Cu, and Zn, being similar for Cd atthe two sites and significantly higher for Cu and Zn (9 and 4 times higher, respectively) at site I. In conclusion, J. maritimus was shown to have potential for phytoextraction (or phytostabilization) of Cd, Cu, and Zn in estuarine environment. However, an eventual application of J. maritimus for this purpose will require a periodic removal of the plants together with their own rhizosediment.     

Lincomycin solar photodegradation, algal toxicity and removal from wastewaters by means of ozonation

Antibiotic molecules have been reported among the xenobiotics present at trace levels in sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and aquatic environment. Lincomycin, one of the most used in clinical practices whose presence in the STP effluents has been often documented, is submitted to an extensive investigation to assess its persistence in the environment and toxicity towards different algal strains. The possibility to remove the lincomycin from water by means of ozonation is demonstrated and a reduction of toxicity of ozonated solutions on S. leopoliensis, with respect to untreated solutions containing this compound, is obtained even just for 1h of treatment. Kinetic constants for the attack to lincomycin of ozone (from 1.53 x 10(5) M(-1)s(-1) at pH = 3.0 and 4.93 x 10(5) M(-1)s(-1) at pH = 6.7) and OH radicals (4.37 x 10(9) M(-1)s(-1) at pH = 5.5 and 4.59 x 10(9) M(-1)s(-1) at pH = 7.5) are also evaluated.