Scientifica最新文献

Since its introduction to the Americas in the early 20th century, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) has affected Brazilian ecosystems and may have contributed to the spread of zoonotic diseases, especially rabies. Its interactions with the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) can increase the risk of rabies transmission. These interactions remain poorly documented, particularly in the São Francisco Forest State Park, a conservation unit in the north of Paraná. In this study, we used camera traps to record three interactions between D. rotundus and S. scrofa, revealing a potential new route for zoonotic spread. Urbanization expansion and forest fragmentation further raise the risk of rabies transmission to animals and humans. Our findings highlight the need for policies and strategies to control wild boar populations and monitor vampire bats to protect public and environmental health in the region.

Plants survive the extreme seasonal and environmental conditions by developing various bioactive compounds. These compounds support their survival in harsh environments. This study examines how seasonal shifts influence the metabolic profiles and antioxidant responses of Rhynchosia minima and Senna italica, shedding light on their metabolic adaptation strategies to arid environments. Both species exhibited significant seasonal variations in total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. Notably, R. minima displayed a 4.8% (0.05-fold) increase in TPC and a more pronounced 1.5-fold increase in TFC during winter compared to summer, while S. italica showed a 2.5-fold increase in TFC. Antioxidant activity was significantly higher in winter; R. minima exhibited a reduction from 98.34 μg/mL (summer) to 68.47 μg/mL (winter), and S. italica showed a decrease from 144.89 μg/mL (summer) to 84.25 μg/mL (winter), indicating enhanced bioactivity under cold stress. Although both species activate common cold stress metabolic pathways involving amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, they exhibit unique metabolic seasonal and species-specific patterns. Unique winter phenolic compounds from R. minima include epigallocatechin and 6-hydroxyflavone-β-D-glucoside, while cis-resveratrol and quercetin were unique to S. italica. R. minima demonstrates broader metabolic adaptations, with enriched metabolic pathways, such as glutathione metabolism, whereas S. italica relies on ubiquinone and α-linolenic acid metabolism. These findings provide insights into the intricate links between environmental stress, phytochemical adaptation, and ecological resilience of legume survival in the arid region, with a direction to antioxidant use in human health.

Magnesium (Mg) is a crucial mineral that is required for maintaining many of the physiological processes, including immune regulation. The immune system is a protective strategy against pathogenic infection, allergic reaction and tumour development. Dysregulation of immune functions results in different pathological conditions, including autoimmune disease, allergic diseases and infectious diseases. Mg plays a role in the modulation of immune responses through the regulation of the activation, proliferation and differentiation of immune cells. Moreover, research has shown that Mg participates in the treatment and prevention of different diseases, so it may serve as a therapeutic drug. Mg immunoregulatory activity and its applications in prevention and treatment of immune-related disorders are discussed herein. Immunosuppression, reduced phagocytosis and suppressed natural killer cell function were associated with low concentrations of Mg, and these are critical for protection against viruses. Mg further affects inflammatory cytokine release and modulation of NF-κB, a key immune signalling cascade. Evidence corroborates that supplementation with Mg might alleviate symptoms of immune diseases like SLE, bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and microbial infection. However, it is critical to conduct trials for establishing optimum dosing paradigms as well as the long-term impact of Mg supplementation in the frame of immune disease.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, influenced by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in the gut microbiome, has been identified as a significant contributor to CRC progression. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome and CRC, the precise underlying mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Recent studies emphasize the role of gut microorganisms in inducing DNA damage, promoting inflammation, and contributing to drug resistance, positioning the microbiome as a promising target for CRC prevention and therapy. This review examines the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and CRC, with a focus on tumorigenesis mechanisms and the potential utility of specific bacterial species as clinical biomarkers. Dysbiosis, often driven by dietary and environmental factors, has been implicated in CRC pathogenesis, with bacterial virulence factors, inflammatory pathways, and microbial metabolites playing central roles in disease progression. Strategies for modulating the gut microbiome, such as probiotic supplementation and other microbiome-targeted interventions, represent emerging therapeutic approaches. Additionally, this review discusses the challenges associated with translating microbiome research into clinical practice and proposes potential solutions. By advancing the understanding of microbiota-CRC interactions, this research offers valuable insights into novel strategies for CRC prevention, early detection, and treatment. Future studies aim to refine microbiome-based interventions, ultimately improving the clinical management of CRC.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2024/2065513.].

Iron deficiency (ID) and ID anemia (IDA) are global health concerns that tend to affect vulnerable populations, including women, children, and those living in areas disproportionately affected by environmental health hazards. A review of the literature was conducted using the top ten chemicals of public health concern as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020, in combination with the terms "iron deficiency" and "anemia." Both epidemiological and controlled experimental studies were considered. Eight contaminants or exposure classifications were ultimately considered to be within the scope of this review: lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, indoor and ambient air pollution, asbestos, dioxin and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and fluoride. Lead, cadmium, indoor and ambient air pollution, and fluoride are reliably linked to higher IDA prevalence and lower hematological parameters, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count, all indicators of anemia. Direct measures of ID are less frequently reported. Further research studies, particularly controlled exposure studies, are needed to determine the importance of arsenic and mercury in contributing to the global ID and IDA burden. There is limited evidence that supplemental or dietary iron fortification can ameliorate the effects of lead, but not fluoride, and the efficacy of fortification has not been widely studied in the context of the remaining contaminants. Asbestos, dioxin, and dioxin-like PCBs are linked to anemia; however, the role of iron homeostasis is more complex and tends to include iron bioaccumulation. The narrative review has identified a need for renewed effort to address environmental factors beyond diet and nutrition when implementing ID and IDA interventions.

The present study explores the ichthyodiversity of a Cyprinid fish. A total of 622 fish samples were collected from five different sites of the Kurram River and identified using standard keys for identification. Out of 622 collected fish samples, 188 were related to the family Cyprinidae comprised of 19 species such as Barilius vagra, Barilius modestus, Barilius pakistanicus, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Carassius auratus, Salmophasia punjabensis, Amblypharyngodon mola, Gara gotyla, Puntius conchonius, Puntius chola, Puntius sophore, Puntius ticto, Tor putitora, Schizothorax esocinus, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Schizothorax labiatus, Labeo diplocheilus, and Crossocheilus diplocheilus. The current study explores 5 new species, i.e., Schizothorax labiatus, Schizothorax esocinus, Amblypharyngodon mola, Puntius chola, and Salmophasia punjabensis for the first time, which are not reported in the earlier work. Principal component analysis (PCA) and diversity indices were analyzed using XLSTAT in conjunction with Microsoft Excel 2019 to assess the correlation and richness of fish diversity. To check the water quality of the River Kurram, the following parameters were examined: temperature, copper, pH, nitrate, alkalinity, chlorine, total hardness, iron, nitrite, and lead. All the recorded physicochemical parameters remained within the safe limits throughout the study period.

The global rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria presents a major threat to public health, complicating the treatment of bacterial infections. This study aimed to identify bacterial pathogens in surface water and sewage samples from the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility. A total of 60 water samples were collected from four distinct locations and analyzed using a combination of culture-based techniques, conventional PCR, and advanced molecular techniques (Sanger sequencing). Eight prevalent bacterial species were identified: Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.6%), Escherichia fergusonii (15%), Enterobacter bugandensis (13.3%), Bacillus paramycoides (8.3%), Comamonas jiangduensis (8.3%), Bacillus albus (6.6%), Klebsiella quasivariicola (5%), and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (5%). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the identity of the bacterial isolates, and the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed distinct genetic divergence of the Bangladeshi isolates compared to global reference strains. Antibiotic susceptibility against 10 commonly used antibiotics was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, revealing a varying degree of resistance patterns. All isolated bacteria exhibited susceptibility to imipenem, levofloxacin, amikacin, and azithromycin, while significant resistance was noted against cefradine, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone. Notably, 44% of the bacterial isolates were identified as multi-drug-resistant (MDR), with K. pneumoniae (69.23%), E. bugandensis (62.5%), and E. fergusonii (55.55%) exhibiting the highest resistance. In contrast, K. quasivariicola and C. jiangduensis exhibited no MDR traits. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index ranged from 0.30 to 0.60 among the isolates. These findings highlight the significant contamination of water sources with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, underscoring the urgent need for effective management practices to mitigate public health risks.

Climbing perch, Anabas testudineus, is an economically important freshwater fish in Indonesia. The climbing perch, also known as betok, has emerged as a prominent species in aquaculture due to its air-breathing ability, which allows the climbing perch to thrive in low dissolved oxygen environments. However, there is a lack of information on the genetic diversity of climbing perch from potential sources of populations as candidates for sustainable culture development. This study aimed to analyze the similarity, genetic distance, and diversity of climbing perch from Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan Islands. We examined 21 truss morphometric characters to determine the intrapopulation variation. In addition, to assess genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship between populations of climbing perch, we used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with primers OPA 07, OPC 02, and OPC 05. The result showed that the population of climbing perch from Kalimantan shows higher similarity with the population from Sumatera (49.97%) than the population from Java (24.96%). Climbing perch from Kalimantan showed the highest polymorphism and heterozygosity of 39.29% and 0.16%, respectively. The interpopulation genetic distance between Kalimantan, Sumatera, and Java ranged from 0.17 to 0.39. The result suggests that the climbing perch from Kalimantan has potential as a candidate for the culture development of the climbing perch.

The gelada (Theropithecus gelada), Ethiopia's only endemic primate and the last surviving graminivorous cercopithecid, was studied in Susgen Natural Forest, South Wollo, to examine seasonal variations in activity budgets and ranging ecology. From February to August 2023, encompassing both dry and wet seasons, 3519 behavioral scans were collected from 1680 group observations using instantaneous scan sampling at 15-min intervals (07:00-17:00 h). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U), while home ranges were mapped via minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel density estimation (KDE). Results revealed that geladas allocated 43.2% of their time to feeding, 15% to movement, 15.5% to social activities, 13.1% to resting, and 13.2% to other behaviors. Dry seasons elicited significantly greater feeding effort (46.1% vs. 40.4%; p < 0.05) and daily travel distances (3658.4 ± 0.902 m vs. 3132.1 ± 2.367 m in wet season; Mann-Whitney U, p ≤ 0.05), with home ranges analyzed through the MCP method expanding to 190.1 ha in dry season as compared with 118.18 ha in wet season. KDE analysis identified the intensive use of core areas (54 ha) within broader ranges (164.95 ha). These findings underscore how geladas in human-modified landscapes face chronic nutritional stress, adapting through extended foraging and ranging patterns. We recommend immediate conservation measures, including habitat restoration and buffer zone establishment, to mitigate anthropogenic pressures on this threatened endemic species.