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Zymdetox Z-2000 is a novel zearalenone (ZEN) lactonase produced by Bacillus subtilis that can biodegrade ZEN to hydrolyzed ZEN and decarboxylated hydrolyzed ZEN with much lower estrogenic activity. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Zymdetox Z-2000 in mitigating the adverse effects of ZEN on the growth performance and reproductive health of gilts. A total of 80 crossbred Landrace × Yorkshire gilts (9.82 ± 0.79 kg) were allocated into five groups and received a basal diet (BD; CON), BD supplemented with 0.4 mg/kg ZEN (ZEN), BD plus ZEN with 0.01% Zymdetox Z-2000 (ZEN-Zym), BD plus ZEN with 0.01% coated Zymdetox Z-2000 (ZEN-CoZym), and BD plus ZEN with 0.1% B. subtilis (ZEN-Bs), respectively, for 28 days. Compared to the CON group, ZEN treatment reduced the body weight gain of the gilts, increased vulva area and vaginal and uterus indices, and increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and estradiol (E2) concentration. ZEN treatment also induced ovaries histopathology changes, decreased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in uterus but increased T-AOC in ovaries, and increased ZEN concentration in stomach and duodenum than those of the CON group. Interestingly, dietary supplementation with the three products effectively alleviated these ZEN-induced adverse effects, as Zymdetox Z-2000 and coated Zymdetox Z-2000 showed better mitigating effects than B. subtilis. In conclusion, ZEN exposure impaired the growth and reproductive health of gilts, while dietary supplementation with Zymdetox Z-2000 and coated Zymdetox Z-2000 can effectively alleviate ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity in gilts.

Snake venoms enzymes affect diverse physiological mechanisms leading to effects such as inflammation, edema, hemolysis, and blood clotting disorders. In this report, we describe modifications to classical assays for assessing the enzymatic activity of snake venom phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and phosphodiesterase (PDE), including the adaptation of the PDE assay to an agar plate. A final staining step, using Stains-all®, was added to the PLA₂ activity assay on an egg yolk-containing agar plate. Moreover, PDE activity was successfully and qualitative assed using an agar plate-immobilized bis-p-nitrophenyl-phosphate. The modified methods introduced in this study improve accessibility for a broader spectrum of researchers, enabling venom-related investigations in any laboratory setting, with special relevance for regions where snakebites are most prevalent.

The current study was aimed to investigate the effect of rifampicin (Rif), a stimulator of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), on limiting the passage of AFB1 (Aflatoxin B1) into testicular tissue. The second objective was to examine the potential protective effects of Boswellia serrata extract (BSE), which exhibits a strong antioxidant capacity, alone or incombination with Rif against testicular damage induced by AFB1. A total of 49 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups as follows: control (placebo), Rif (10 mg/kg), BSE (500 mg/kg), AFB1 (0.75 mg/kg), AFB1+Rif, AFB1+BSE, and AFB1+Rif + BSE. The rats were administered AFB1, Rif, and BSE for seven days. The result of this study indicated that Rif decreased the amount of AFB1 permeating the testicular tissue by stimulating the expression of P-gp and BCRP. The administration of the combination of BSE and Rif resulted in a reduction of oxidative stress, apoptosis, improvement in sperm function parameters, and an increase in serum testosterone levels. These effects contributed to the improvement of impaired testicular structure. The result of this study revealed that the Rif can potentially serve as an efficacious therapeutic agent and the administration of BSE exhibited a reduction in testicular damage induced by AFB1. However, the combination of BSE and Rif provided more effective protection than using alone.

Sophora alkaloids, including matrine, oxymatrine, and sophoridine, are quinolizidines found in plants used in traditional Chinese medicine such as Sophora flavescens and Sophora tonkinensis. Reports on acute Sophora alkaloid poisoning in humans outside of mainland China are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentations, management, and outcomes of acute poisoning involving Sophora alkaloids in Hong Kong. We conducted a retrospective study of patients who were reported to the Hong Kong Poison Control Centre from all public emergency departments (EDs) in Hong Kong for acute poisoning involving Sophora alkaloids. Exposure was confirmed by laboratories, and data were collected between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2021. We also analyzed patient demographics, clinical, management, and outcome characteristics. Among the 83 cases analyzed, S. flavescens was the major source (77.1%) of Sophora alkaloids and excessive dose was common (39.0%). Most patients (90.4%) had minor effects. Common clinical presentations were dizziness (83.1%), vomiting (72.3%), and palpitations (32.5%). No acute liver or kidney injuries or adverse skin reactions were observed. Treatment was primarily supportive and no patients underwent gastrointestinal decontamination, organ support treatment, or renal replacement therapy. Most patients (74.7%) were observed in the ED and only one required close monitoring in a cardiac care unit for prolonged QT interval after concurrent ciprofloxacin use. In contrast to the intravenous administration of S. flavescens, no adverse skin reactions were seen after oral consumption. Hepatoxicity, reported in in vitro and animal studies, and isolated human case reports, was not observed. In conclusion, excessive dose of S. flavescens is a common cause of acute Sophora alkaloid poisoning. Although most patients had mild symptoms, discrepancies in clinical presentations resulting from different formulations and varied experimental/clinical conditions call for further studies to evaluate the real-world risks of skin reactions and hepatoxicity of Sophora alkaloids.

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is a highly toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic mycotoxin commonly found in corn. In this work, water-assisted microwave irradiation (WMI¹) was used to degrade AFB₁ in corn, during which the influencing factors and kinetics of AFB₁ degradation were also studied. The results showed that the degree of corn crushing, the heating rate of WMI, the temperature of WMI, the solid-liquid ratio, the initial content of AFB₁ and the microwave power were all important factors affecting the degradation of AFB₁. With the increase of WMI temperature, AFB₁ content in corn, microwave power and the decrease of solid-liquid ratio, the degradation rate of AFB₁ in corn by WMI rose continuously. Its maximum degradation rate was more than 90.6%. Meanwhile, the degradation kinetics of AFB₁ in corn revealed that the degradation process of WMI followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic equation. It was demonstrated that water molecules not only acted as solvents for AFB₁ but also actively participated in its degradation process within corn samples during WMI treatment. Consequently, the results indicated that WMI was an effective method for degrading AFB₁ in corn.

Botulinum toxin type A is a first line choice in the treatment of spastic muscle overactivity. However, targeting the muscles involved in the deformity with the appropriate dose as well as choosing the goal to achieve and predicting the expected results can be challenging. Diagnostic nerve block with anaesthetics rapidly and temporarily suppresses overactivity of the selected muscle allowing clinicians to identify the involved muscles and the potential improvement of botulinum toxin injections. This narrative review summarizes the predictive value of the diagnostic nerve block before botulinum toxin injections. In the case of a stiff knee gait, rectus femoris blockade seems to predict knee flexion and gait speed improvement, which is subsequently obtained after rectus femoris botulinum toxin injections, but underestimates improvements in balance. In the case of spastic equinovarus foot, tibial nerve block provides a greater reduction in spasticity. Diagnostic nerve block assessment prior to botulinum toxin type A injections leads to an increase in the number of injected muscles, in the dose per muscle and in the overall cumulative dose. Finally, diagnostic nerve block may help to increase the goal achievement rate. Further well conducted studies are necessary.

Our study identified high-molecular-weight compounds from Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV), and most of them have not yet been well explored. TsV was fractionated using FPLC system with different columns, analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and characterized by MALDI-TOF/TOF. Our study showed that TsV contains several high-molecular-weight compounds, including CRISPs, metalloproteinase and hyaluronidase. We show how these molecules can be obtained from TsV, enabling future studies about their molecular structures and biological actions, expanding knowledge about this venom.

The literature in botulinum toxin treatment for painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), post traumatic neuralgia (PTN), postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and occipital neuralgia (ON) was reviewed up to Oct 1st, 2024. Using the efficacy criteria set forth by the Assessment and Guideline subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, the current levels of efficacy for these conditions could be designated as followings: PDN: B (probably effective, two class II study), PTN: A (effective, two class I studies); PHN: A (effective, two class I studies), ON: (undetermined due to lack of blinded investigations). Due to the small number of patients in these studies, proof of efficacy requires conduction of controlled and blinded studies in large cohorts of patients with longer follow ups. Future prospects of botulinum therapy for these pain disorders were discussed along with the advantages of this mode of treatment over the current modes of treatment.

Amphibian skin is a rich source of molecules with biotechnological potential, including the tryptophyllin family of peptides. Here, we report the identification and characterization of two tryptophyllin peptides, FPPEWISR and FPWLLS-NH₂, from the skin of the Central Dwarf Frog, Physalaemus centralis. These peptides were identified through cDNA cloning and sequence comparison. FPWLLS-NH₂ shares its primary structure with a previously identified peptide from the skin of Pelophylax perezi, named PpT-2. Another peptide, FPPEWISR, is novel and was named PcT-1. After solid-phase peptide synthesis, both peptides exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with PcT-1 and PpT-2 demonstrating ABTS radical scavenging capacities of 0.305 and 0.269 mg Trolox equivalents/mg peptide, respectively, and ORAC values of 0.319 and 0.248 mg Trolox equivalents/mg peptide. Additionally, PcT-1 and PpT-2 inhibited AAPH-induced hemolysis in human red blood cells, achieving a protection level comparable to Trolox at 0.2 mg/mL. In rat aorta preparations, both peptides partially restored acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation following pyrogallol-induced oxidative stress, with a greater protective effect of PpT-2. Hemolytic activity assay indicated no cytotoxicity in human red blood cells, and tests on Galleria mellonella larvae confirmed their low toxicity in vivo. These findings highlight the biotechnological potential of PcT-1 and PpT-2 as antioxidant agents, paving the way for new therapeutic applications in combating oxidative stress-related diseases.

This study was conducted to assess the effects of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) on the jejunum of pigs using a novel ex vivo model conducted in parallel with an in vivo trial. For the in vivo model, twelve male 28 to 70-days-old pigs were subjected to two treatments of six animals each: the control group, fed a basal diet (BD), and the FB₁ group, fed the BD + 50 mg/kg FB₁. At 70 days, the animals were slaughtered and one jejunal sample was collected from each pig for further histopathological analyses. Other four male pigs from the in vivo control treatment were slaughtered at 70 days for the ex vivo model. Four jejunal explants were collected from each pig, totaling 16 intestinal explants, which were subjected to two treatments, with 8 explants each, using an Ussing Chamber (UC) system: the control group, subjected to buffer solution (BS), and the FB₁ group, subjected to BS + 50 mg/L FB₁. Samples from in vivo and ex vivo models were analyzed for histopathological parameters and subjective intestinal assessments. The FB₁ group presented lower (P < 0.05) villi height than the control group in both in vivo and ex vivo. A decrease (P < 0.05) in the villi number, crypt depth, enterocyte height and enterocyte nucleus size was also observed in the FB₁ group ex vivo, with a higher severity score of lymphatic vessels dilation than the control (P = 0.0459). The FB₁ group also tended to increase the goblet cells count (P = 0.0736) ex vivo as well as to decrease the crypt width (P = 0.0638) in vivo. The ex vivo model exhibited similar mean values and statistical responses to those observed in vivo, demonstrating its potential as an alternative approach for assessing the effects of mycotoxins in a reduced number of animals.