Toxins最新文献

Signs of aging in the upper face arise from multimodal changes in facial anatomy, contributing to concerns such as eyebrow ptosis and forehead lines. While neurotoxin injections are widely used to address these lines, the anatomical variability of the frontalis muscle presents procedural challenges. This retrospective analysis aimed to introduce and preliminarily evaluate a structured injection pattern for forehead treatment, developed with attention to the biomechanics of upper facial musculature. A total of 24 patients (mean age 42.5 ± 9.1 years) treated with a standardized injection scheme using letibotulinumtoxinA were included. All subjects also received concomitant glabellar treatment. The protocol incorporated identification of the line of convergence and targeted injections at defined points to balance elevation, optimize muscular activity, and minimize the risk of eyebrow descent. Forehead line severity was assessed at rest and during animation, and three-dimensional surface imaging was used to quantify vertical skin displacement. At baseline, 79.2% of patients presented with severe dynamic forehead lines, and 29.1% exhibited severe static lines. After two weeks, 62.5% showed no dynamic lines and 41.7% showed no static lines. All subjects demonstrated a ≥1-point improvement in dynamic line severity, with 87.5% achieving a ≥2-point improvement. For static lines, 95.8% achieved a ≥1-point improvement and 20.8% showed a ≥2-point improvement after two weeks. The mean dosage was 17.8 ± 0.7 U. Two patients (8.3%) required a touch-up, and no adverse events were observed. These findings suggest that this structured injection approach may offer a consistent method for addressing forehead lines; however, the results should be interpreted within the limitations of a small, uncontrolled retrospective series. Prospective controlled studies with larger populations are needed to further validate the technique.

Platelet concentrates (PCs) are used to treat patients with platelet deficiencies. PCs are stored at 20-24 °C under agitation for up to 7 days to maintain platelet functionality, but these conditions are amenable for proliferation of contaminants such as Staphylococcus aureus, posing a risk for transfusion-transmitted infections. We investigated the contribution of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) type G (SEG) and type H (SEH) to platelet activation, cytokine release, microRNA (miRNA) modulation, and in vivo virulence. PCs were inoculated with wildtype S. aureus CBS2016-05 or SE-deficient mutants (Δseg, Δseh, ΔΔsegh) and monitored during storage. Flow cytometry revealed progressive elevation of platelet activation markers CD62P and Annexin V in contaminated PCs, with significantly higher expression in wildtype compared to SE-mutant strains. Cytokine profiling demonstrated that SEs modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, notably CCL2, TGF-β1, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, implicating SEG in their regulation. Next-generation sequencing and RT-qPCR validation identified transient induction of immune-related microRNAs miR-98-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-320a-3p, with SE-dependent expression patterns. In a silkworm infection model, wildtype S. aureus-contaminated PCs exhibited significantly higher lethality than SE-deficient strains, confirming toxin-mediated virulence. Collectively, these findings reveal that SEs exacerbate platelet activation and immune dysregulation during storage, enhancing bacterial pathogenicity. This study identifies platelet-derived cytokine and miRNA signatures as potential biomarkers of bacterial contamination and underscores the need to mitigate SE-driven platelet dysfunction to improve transfusion safety.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-derived dietary metabolite, is linked to progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Megalin, a renal proximal tubule receptor crucial for albumin reabsorption, also plays a role in CKD. However, the relationship between them is not well explored. The aim of this study was to investigate if there are any correlations between the levels of TMAO, megalin, lysine and markers of tubular damage in CKD. Urinary metabolites (TMAO, choline, L-carnitine, betaine, lysine) and tubular markers (megalin, albumin, EGF, MCP-1) were quantified by LC-MS/MS and ELISA. Associations were evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age and diabetes, with false discovery rate correction. Compared with controls, CKD patients showed higher urinary choline (FDR < 0.001), betaine (FDR = 0.007), lysine (FDR = 0.005), and soluble megalin (FDR < 0.001) but lower EGF and EGF/MCP-1 ratio (both FDR < 0.001). Correlation analyses revealed that serum TMAO was positively associated with soluble megalin and negatively with EGF/MCP-1 ratio. Choline, L-carnitine, and betaine were positively correlated with megalin. This cross-sectional study identifies associations between urinary metabolites, megalin, and tubular injury markers in advanced CKD. Although causality cannot be inferred, the results point to a potential metabolic-tubular link that should be explored in future longitudinal and mechanistic studies.

In the current research, we optimized a simultaneous method for quantifying deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivative forms, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (D3G), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), and nivalenol (NIV), in pet food using QuEChERS combined with liquid chromatography quadrupole mass spectrometry. The developed method's linearity, sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and precision were also validated. The limits of detection and quantification for this analysis method were 6.7-9.4 ng g^-1 and 20.1-28.1 ng g^-1, respectively. The average recovery (60.1-107.2%, RSD ≤ 9.3%) met the recovery (60-110%) and precision (RSDr ≤ 20%) criteria for DON specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006. A total of 246 pet food samples (68 cat and 178 dog food samples) collected in South Korea were analyzed. DON was detected in 11.8% of cat food and 8.4% of dog food samples, with concentrations ranging from 122.9 to 799.4 ng g^-1 and 79.7 to 698.0 ng g^-1, respectively. The co-occurrence rate of DON and its metabolites was 7.3% in dog food and 10.3% in cat food. NIV was not detected in cat food samples but was detected in two (1.1%) dog food samples at 23.4 and 32.0 ng g^-1 contamination levels. All detected levels were below the regulatory guidance limit. Investigations of the effect of DON contamination levels according to the grain content of pet food revealed that the DON detection rate tended to increase with grain content. This study can be effectively utilized in quality control laboratories for high-throughput routine analysis of mycotoxins.

Wheat is a major staple crop in Xinjiang, China; however, comprehensive data on Fusarium mycotoxin contamination in wheat from this region remain limited. Despite recent observations of Fusarium head blight (FHB), few studies have characterized the mycotoxin profiles in wheat from Xinjiang, especially regarding emerging mycotoxins. This study aimed to systematically investigate the occurrence of both conventional and emerging mycotoxins in freshly harvested wheat from Xinjiang, to evaluate the effects of sampling year and geographical region on mycotoxin contamination levels, and to identify the Fusarium species responsible for mycotoxin production. A total of 151 freshly harvested wheat samples were collected from Southern and Northern Xinjiang in 2023 and 2024. Mycotoxins were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Fusarium isolates were obtained and identified through the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene sequencing. Genotyping was assessed by genotype-specific multiplex PCR, and mycotoxigenic potential was detected by rice culture assays. A high incidence (72.9%) of co-contamination with multiple mycotoxins was observed. Conventional mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) were detected in 31.1% and 41.1% of samples. Notably, emerging mycotoxins, including enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA), were present at significantly higher concentrations than those reported in some regions of China. Significant spatiotemporal variation was observed, with markedly higher contamination levels of emerging mycotoxins in 2024, particularly in Northern Xinjiang, where the symptoms of FHB epidemic occurred due to the humid climate and maize-wheat rotation system. Fusarium graminearum was identified as the primary producer of conventional mycotoxins, while F. acuminatum and F. avenaceum were mainly associated with emerging mycotoxins except BEA. This study provides the first comprehensive dataset on the co-occurrence of conventional and emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat from Xinjiang and highlights significant spatiotemporal variations influenced by environmental factors. These findings underscore the necessity for continuous, region-specific monitoring and effective risk management strategies to address the evolving mycotoxin threat in Xinjiang's wheat. Future research should focus on characterizing the populations of Fusarium toxin-producing fungi and the long-term impacts of mycotoxin exposure on food safety.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the consumption of seafood such as shellfish and crustaceans due to their pleasant taste and nutritional value. Fish are also a crucial part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, the consumption of these products may cause food poisoning through marine biotoxins. In recent years, several legal acts have been published by the European Commission to regulate toxin limits and describe their reference analysis methods. Commission Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 established the maximum contents of marine biotoxins only in bivalve mollusks. Although other groups of marine organisms such as crustaceans (crabs, shrimps, and lobsters) and fish are not included in the EU rules for toxin monitoring, they may still be vectors of marine biotoxins for humans. Due to this, there is an urgent need for studies regarding the occurrence of marine biotoxins in non-bivalve seafood organisms and their potential influence on public health. In this review, the most important cases of accumulation of marine biotoxins in crustaceans and fish in recent years are described.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, severely contaminates grains and feed, posing a continuous threat to human and livestock health. In this study, the DON-degrading enzyme (DDE) gene from Devosia sp. JA3 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzyme kinetics revealed that DDE exhibited optimal activity at 37 °C and pH 7.0, with a Km of 0.32 mM and a Vmax of 563.3 nmol/(min·mg). Under optimized conditions, DDE efficiently oxidized DON to 3-keto-DON, achieving a degradation rate of 82.51% within 12 h. Further investigation in C57BL/6J mice showed that oral administration of 2 mg/kg DON significantly reduced antioxidant capacity, caused liver damage, impaired intestinal barrier function, induced intestinal inflammation and apoptosis, and disrupted the gut microbiota. DDE treatment effectively alleviated these DON-induced effects by restoring antioxidant capacity, ameliorating liver injury, downregulating pro-inflammatory and apoptotic genes, upregulating barrier-related genes, and restoring the gut microbiota balance, thereby protecting intestinal health. These findings demonstrate DDE's excellent DON-degrading capacity and biosafety, providing new technical evidence for DON detoxification applications.

(1) Background: Humans and animals are exposed daily to numerous food-associated noxious molecules, including fungal toxins or mycotoxins. Effects of mycotoxins on the intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are well characterized. However, their impact on the enteric nervous system (ENS), particularly on enteric glial cells (EGCs), has not been evaluated. (2) Methods: In the present work, the impact of major mycotoxins (eighteen mycotoxins in total, both regulated and non-regulated (including emerging ones) mycotoxins) on EGCs was evaluated in vitro in terms of antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects using rat EGCs as a model. Inhibitory concentrations on cell division and cell viability were determined using the resazurin assay, and biochemical analysis was performed to identify the mechanism(s) of action involved. (3) Results: Of the eighteen mycotoxins tested, twelve were found to be toxic; apicidin, deoxynivalenol, and cyclohexadepsipeptide mycotoxins (enniatins and beauvericin) were the most toxic, with active concentrations as low as 0.19 ± 0.07 µM for deoxynivalenol. Mechanistic studies revealed that toxicity occurs through the induction of oxidative stress, alteration of the membrane integrity, and/or induction of apoptosis. (4) Conclusions: As far as we know, the data presented here show for the first time that EGCs are targets of foodborne mycotoxins, even at low concentrations potentially achieved in cases of ingesting contaminated food.

Scorpion venom toxins are important peptides being studied for their clinical significance. These peptides act by binding to ion channels in the membrane of nerve cells, causing the symptoms associated with scorpion stings (scorpionism). They principally affect the function of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) and are valuable for studying ion channels. Scorpions from the Buthidae family contain toxins that affect sodium channels and have a high affinity for mammalian channels. In this study, two sodium toxins isolated from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides hirsutipalpus, a member of the Buthidae family, were identified as belonging to the beta-type subfamily. These toxins were purified from whole venom using molecular exclusion, cationic-exchange, and reverse-phase chromatography techniques. Their molecular masses were determined using mass spectrometry, while their amino acid sequences were obtained by Edman degradation. A comparative analysis revealed that the sequences are identical to ChiNaBet60 and ChiNaBet50 toxins (now named Chirp7 and Chirp9, respectively) previously identified in the venom gland transcriptomics from C. hirsutipalpus. Furthermore, toxicity studies showed that these toxins were lethal to mammals. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that these peptides act as sodium channel-modulating toxins. In addition, interaction assays with antibodies were performed to analyze the structural determinants governing the binding mechanism.

Polygalae Radix, a traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia and memory disorders, is highly susceptible to fungal contamination and mycotoxin production (especially by Aspergillus flavus) during storage, compromising its safety and efficacy. Therefore, in this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to evaluate the dynamic changes in fungal communities during the storage of Polygalae Radix and to analyze common mycotoxin-producing genera. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of peppermint essential oil (PEO) on A. flavus were assessed through fumigation treatments, combined with colony counting and quantification of aflatoxins. Results showed the following: (1) Storage for 1-3 months significantly altered the fungal structure, promoting saprophytic and pathogenic fungi (e.g., Wallemia, Paraphoma, Didymella, Cladosporium…) and increasing the relative abundance of mycotoxin producers like Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium (notably, Penicillium increased from 0.28-2.33% to 5.39-80.43%). Additionally, A. flavus, capable of producing aflatoxins, was detected in samples stored for two months (RM2). (2) Antifungal tests demonstrated that PEO significantly inhibited the common fungi in Polygalae Radix. At 10 μL/g, it suppressed fungal growth and significantly reduced aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and total aflatoxins (AFT, including AFB₁, AFB₂, AFG₁, and AFG₂) levels (p < 0.05). At 10 μL/g, AFB₁ and AFT were reduced to undetectable levels. PEO can serve as a green and effective protective strategy to inhibit A. flavus during the storage of Polygalae Radix and control aflatoxin contamination.