Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disorder, affecting around 25% of the population worldwide. It is a complex disease spectrum, closely linked with other conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, which may increase liver-related mortality. In light of this, numerous efforts have been carried out in recent years in order to clarify its pathogenesis and create new prevention strategies. Currently, the essential role of environmental pollutants in NAFLD development is recognized. Particularly, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a notable influence. EDCs can be classified as natural (phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol) or synthetic, and the latter ones can be further subdivided into industrial (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and alkylphenols), agricultural (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), residential (phthalates, polybrominated biphenyls, and bisphenol A), and pharmaceutical (parabens). Several experimental models have proposed a mechanism involving this group of substances with the disruption of hepatic metabolism, which promotes NAFLD. These include an imbalance between lipid influx/efflux in the liver, mitochondrial dysfunction, liver inflammation, and epigenetic reprogramming. It can be concluded that exposure to EDCs might play a crucial role in NAFLD initiation and evolution. However, further investigations supporting these effects in humans are required.     

Mechanical spectroscopy in commercial Fe–6 wt.% Si alloys between 400 and 1000 K

Mechanical spectroscopy, neutron diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed on commercial Fe–6 wt.% Si alloy after quenching from high temperature. The damping spectrum shows a peak at around 800 K and an associated modulus defect. The modulus shows an increase during the second and subsequent heating runs. In addition, an anomaly in the modulus behavior has been found at around 400 K. Different thermal treatments allows to obtain two different recovery degrees of the quenched-in defects. The influence of the recovery degree on the 800 K internal friction peak and on the anelastic modulus has been evaluated and confirm the validity of the grain boundary mechanism associated to this peak. Experimental results are discussed on the basis of recovery and ordering processes.     

Immunohistochemical localization of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic uterine tissues

Assuming that the chemical reactions used to synthesize a combinatorial library member are successful, then knowledge of the specific reaction sequence is equivalent to knowing the member's chemical identity. Because the determination of chemical identity is typically not automatable and requires a substantial amount of material, schemes that encode a member's reaction history onto the reaction platform are of value. The primary benefits of encoding are relational nomenclature (all methods) and automated handling (some methods). Encoding methods evaluated to date are spatial, graphical, chemical, spectrometric, electronic, and physical.     

Intubation conditions: importance of the rate of repetition of the train-of-four

OBJECTIVES: To assess that neuromuscular relaxation onset of the adductor pollicis (AP) is related to neuromuscular stimulation rate. To assess that train-of-four (TOF) at 0.05 Hz is a more accurate indicator of optimal tracheal intubation time and conditions, than TOF at 0.08 Hz. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, comparative, randomized double-blind study. PATIENTS: Forty adults, physical class ASA 1 or 2, undergoing general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were allocated to two groups (n = 20) according to the sequence of stimulation of the AP: either TOF at 0.05 Hz (test group) or TOF at 0.08 Hz (control group). METHODS: Induction of anaesthesia was achieved with thiopentone, fentanyl and vecuronium (0.1 mg.kg-1). Neuromuscular monitoring was obtained with force displacement transducers attached to each AP. Tracheal intubation was performed once AP muscular response obtained with TOF at 0.05 Hz for test group and TOF at 0.08 Hz for control group was abolished. Results are expressed as mean +/- SEM. Fisher exact test was used for intubation conditions comparison. Curarization time between groups was compared with unpaired Student's t test (P < 0.05 accepted). RESULTS: TOF with 0.05 Hz stimulation significantly increased curarization time: 217 +/- 7 versus 162 +/- 6 s (P < 0.001). Intubation conditions were excellent in 95% and good in 5% of patients in the study group, compared to 15 and 40% in the control group, respectively (P < 0.01) in 45% of the control group patients coughing at intubation occurred. CONCLUSION: Low stimulation rate (TOF at 0.05 Hz) of AP is a reliable technique to determine the appropriate intubation time for patients paralyzed with vecuronium.     

Polyimide foams from powder: Experimental analysis of competitive diffusion phenomena

In the present study, various diffusive processes have been investigated during foaming of powdered precursors of polyimide. A detailed analysis of the powdered precursor's characteristics allows for an enhanced morphological understanding of the resulting microstructures and foam unit cell. Parameters that are central to the foaming process such as particle morphology, volatile concentration and sorption-desorption processes are evaluated. Isothermal and non-isothermal desorption experiments have been carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and specific diffusive processes have been correlated to thermodynamic and kinetic transitions by means of modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) of the corresponding materials. It was found that two primary fluxes of volatiles, one out of the external surface of the particles (responsible for volatile desorption) and the other into the growing bubble (responsible for vapor supersaturation inside the bubble) compete against each other creating a competitive scenario that becomes the controlling factor for potential inflation within the precursor particles.