Article
Neurosciences
Xin Yi Ng, Yumei Wu, Youneng Lin, Sidra Mohamed Yaqoob, Lois E. Greene, Pietro De Camilli, Mian Cao
Summary: This study found that mutations in two genes, synaptojanin 1 (SJ1) and auxilin, are associated with Parkinson's disease, and defective dopaminergic terminals are a characteristic of the disease. Experiments on mice showed that mutations in SJ1 and auxilin genes lead to neurological damage similar to Parkinsonism. The study also found that double mutant mice with both SJ1 and auxilin mutations have more severe synaptic defects and a shorter lifespan than single mutant mice, providing new clues to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zane N. Aldworth, Mark Stopfer
Summary: Gap junctions, although not easily detectable in connectome maps, have been found to play a significant role in shaping neural activity by stabilizing a neuron's membrane potential against unwanted oscillations.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yixin Cao, Tianshi Zhao, Chun Zhao, Yina Liu, Pengfei Song, Hao Gao, Ce Zhou Zhao
Summary: This article introduces a method to enhance the synaptic properties of solution-based thin-film transistors, which can simulate biological synaptic behavior and show great potential in artificial intelligence applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eunee Lee, Seungjoon Lee, Jae Jin Shin, Woochul Choi, Changuk Chung, Suho Lee, Jihye Kim, Seungmin Ha, Ryunhee Kim, Taesun Yoo, Ye-Eun Yoo, Jisoo Kim, Young Woo Noh, Issac Rhim, Soo Yeon Lee, Woohyun Kim, Taekyung Lee, Hyogeun Shin, Il-Joo Cho, Karl Deisseroth, Sang Jeong Kim, Joo Min Park, Min Whan Jung, Se-Bum Paik, Eunjoon Kim
Summary: The NMDARs and gap junctions in cortical PV interneurons are involved in modulating burst firing, which ultimately affects social behavior.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Geonyeop Lee, Ji-Hwan Baek, Fan Ren, Stephen J. Pearton, Gwan-Hyoung Lee, Jihyun Kim
Summary: Neuromorphic systems, which mimic neural functionalities of a human brain using artificial synapses and neurons, have advantages of high energy efficiency and fast computing speed. 2D materials, with unique surface properties and excellent crystallinity, have emerged as promising candidates for neuromorphic computing hardware due to uncontrollable defects in bulk material-based devices.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yijin Yang, Shen Li, Yongjun Xia, Guangqiang Wang, Li Ni, Hui Zhang, Lianzhong Ai
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as co-fermenters on the flavor characteristics of Chinese rice wine (CRW). The co-fermentation of LAB increased the utilization rate of reducing sugar, concentration of lactic acid, amino acid nitrogen, and total acidity, as well as the content of volatile flavor compounds. The species of LAB greatly affected the flavor characteristics of CRW.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mengru Wang, Lin Jiang, Mingxuan Liu, Shaofeng Yuan, Yahui Guo, Weirong Yao, Hang Yu
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of ultrasound-based cleaning treatment on removing Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm from lettuce. The results showed that higher intensity of ultrasound led to a significant decrease in biofilm content on lettuce. Additionally, quality attributes of lettuce remained largely unchanged under ultrasound treatment at the highest intensity level. Metabolomic analysis revealed differential expression of 27 metabolites involved in various metabolic pathways in ultrasound-treated bacteria. The findings suggest that ultrasound treatment can disrupt the metabolism and genetic information of bacterial biofilm, but also induce stress responses in the bacteria.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Susan George, Maria Rosaria Mattei, Luigi Frunzo, Giovanni Esposito, Eric D. van Hullebusch, Fernando G. Fermoso
Summary: Dosing trace metals can improve biogas production in anaerobic digesters by stimulating microorganisms involved in metabolic pathways. Existing metal speciation models fail to accurately predict the effects of trace metals on anaerobic digestion, indicating the importance of considering non-ideal aqueous phase chemistry in defining metal speciation and labile fractions. A dynamic model was proposed in this study, which successfully predicted the effects of trace metals under different conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Chantelle E. Klaczek, Gavin N. Saari, Heather D. Veilleux, Diane A. Mielewczyk, Greg G. Goss, Chris N. Glover
Summary: The study investigated Sr bioaccumulation and ionoregulatory endpoints in rainbow trout. Results suggest that water Ca concentration strongly influences Sr bioavailability, but over an acute exposure period, there is limited evidence for an effect of Sr on Ca homeostasis in fish.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kazuichi Isaka, Daichi Sugawara, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Yuya Kimura, Toshifumi Osaka, Satoshi Tsuneda
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of Se(VI), Zn(II), and Ni(II) on the start-up period of an anammox reactor. The results showed that Zn(II) limitation seriously affected the start-up of the anammox process, while Se(VI) and Ni(II) were not required or need not be continuously added.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zafar Iqbal Khan, Rehan Haider, Kafeel Ahmad, Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei, Naunain Mehmood, Hafsa Memona, Shahzad Akhtar, Ilker Ugulu
Summary: This study assessed the concentrations of Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni in grapefruit and kinnow fruit irrigated with different water sources. The results showed that samples from sites irrigated with sewage water had higher concentrations of all metals compared to those from tube-well and canal water irrigation sites. However, the metal concentrations in these fruits were within permissible limits, indicating no immediate health risks.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Yanling Zhuang, Yu Wang, Yongjing Deng, Feiyang Li, Xintong Chen, Shujuan Liu, Yi Tong, Qiang Zhao
Summary: By designing and synthesizing the Ir-vio complex, two-terminal memristors with multilevel storage characteristics were successfully fabricated, which can be used for constructing neural networks.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leilei Yu, Hui Duan, Yaqi Yu, Qingsong Zhang, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Qixiao Zhai, Fengwei Tian, Wei Chen
Summary: This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of chronic lead exposure on trace elements and gut microbiota in mice, revealing that chronic lead exposure disrupts trace element levels in tissues, especially in the brain, and induces gut dysbiosis in a dose-dependent manner, which is different from the dose-effect of acute lead toxicity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Salih Muhammad Awadh, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Mohammad Saleh Al-Suwaiyan
Summary: As genetic factors alone cannot explain most cases of Autism, this study investigates the role of environmental factors such as macro elements, trace elements, and ultra-trace elements in the development of Autism. It finds that toxic metals like aluminium and lead are linked to socialization and language difficulties, while zinc deficiency may be a risk factor for Autism. Autistic individuals often have zinc deficiency combined with excess copper, and monitoring these levels is crucial in treatment. Higher levels of manganese and copper, as well as arsenic and mercury, are found in individuals with Autism.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yuying Guo, Enzai Du, Binghe Li, Nan Xia, Xinhui Wu, Wim de Vries
Summary: Rapid urbanization has led to changes in the spatial patterns of atmospheric trace element deposition, resulting in increased soil pollution in urban areas. It is important to control trace element emissions to ensure urban soil quality.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara A. De Benedictis, Claudia Haffke, Simone Hagmeyer, Ann Katrin Sauer, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: Research has shown that zinc ions play an essential role in brain function, with zinc transporters implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. This study identified ZIP4 expression in both rat neurons and astrocytes but predominantly in neurons, indicating a potential novel role in excitatory synapses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Janelle E. Stanton, Sigita Malijauskaite, Kieran McGourty, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: Metal dyshomeostasis is a significant factor in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Metallomics studies have mainly focused on trace metal composition, but there is a growing awareness of the connections between metallome and other omes like microbiome and metabolome, which may contribute to individual pathologies. The gut-brain axis and inflammatory processes in ASD have been linked to changes in the microbiome, which are influenced by metallomics data.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ann Katrin Sauer, Sigita Malijauskaite, Paula Meleady, Tobias M. Boeckers, Kieran McGourty, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: The study reveals that zinc deficiency can cause morphological changes in GI development, affecting barrier permeability and pro-inflammatory pathways, leading to chronic systemic and neuroinflammation, and altering microbiota composition, resembling the characteristics found in ASD patients.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Eleonora Daini, Simone Hagmeyer, Chiara A. De Benedictis, Joana S. Cristovao, Martina Bodria, Aisling M. Ross, Andrea Raab, Tobias M. Boeckers, Joerg Feldmann, Claudio M. Gomes, Michele Zoli, Antonietta Vilella, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and nongenetic factors, including maternal immune system activation and zinc deficiency. Research suggests that copy-number variations in the S100B gene are associated with ASD, and increased levels of S100B affect zinc homeostasis. In vitro and in vivo studies in mice show that high levels of S100B affect zinc availability, SHANK protein networks, and behavior outcomes, providing insights into potential common pathomechanisms underlying ASD.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ann Katrin Sauer, Simone Hagmeyer, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: Early life zinc deficiency is associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), as shown by epidemiological studies and mouse models. Prenatal zinc deficiency can lead to gastrointestinal and immune system alterations, as well as abnormal synaptic signaling in the brain, which contribute to the neurobiological and behavioral abnormalities observed in ASD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jason Thomas Duskey, Arianna Rinaldi, Ilaria Ottonelli, Riccardo Caraffi, Chiara Alessia De Benedictis, Ann Katrin Sauer, Giovanni Tosi, Maria Angela Vandelli, Barbara Ruozi, Andreas Martin Grabrucker
Summary: Nanomedicines offer a way to overcome major barriers in current cancer treatments.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chiara A. De Benedictis, Sarah Trame, Lothar Rink, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: This study investigated the zinc intake and bioavailability of over 250 women (both pregnant and non-pregnant) in Ireland and found that 58% of participants were at risk of inadequate zinc intake, with 29% potentially being zinc deficient. The low zinc intake was primarily a result of insufficient consumption of zinc-rich foods and relatively higher intake of foods rich in phytate, a major inhibitor of zinc uptake.
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Luciana Azevedo, Mateus Sa M. Serafim, Vinicius G. Maltarollo, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Daniel Granato
Summary: This study proposes a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to design functional foods by linking atherosclerosis biomarkers, potential bioactive compounds, and food technology. Computational methods can be used to predict the bioactivity of phenolic compounds, and combined with chemical analyses and mathematical models, novel sources of bioactive compounds can be discovered. The integration of food science/technology, nutrition, and structure-and ligand-based approaches supports the design of tailor-made functional foods/nutraceuticals for interventions related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sigita Malijauskaite, Ann Katrin Sauer, Seamus E. Hickey, Marco Franzoni, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Kieran McGourty
Summary: This study used omics approaches to compare genetic and non-genetic mouse models of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and identified a common protein network related to synaptic vesicle release and recycling. The findings suggest that abnormal synaptic vesicle dynamics and function may be a key neurobiological factor contributing to shared behavioral abnormalities in ASD.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Blazewicz, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: Metals have been recognized to impact our body's physiology for hundreds of years. Recently, a link between abnormal metal levels and neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has been discovered. This review summarizes past and current research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of toxic metals, focusing on ASD-related activities such as inflammation/immune activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, impairment of axonal myelination, and synapse formation and function. The competition with essential metals may explain why both the presence of certain toxic metals and the absence of certain essential metals are risk factors for ASD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Aisling M. Ross, Rachel M. Cahalane, Darragh R. Walsh, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Lynnette Marcar, John J. E. Mulvihill
Summary: This study investigated the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) with different materials, sizes, and concentrations on cell barrier integrity and cell viability. The results showed that the properties of NPs in realistic media were the best predictor of cell response. Additionally, the zeta potential of NPs was found to significantly correlate with NP permeability and changes in cell viability. NPs with a physiological-based zeta potential of -12 mV demonstrated good cell barrier penetration without considerable changes in cell viability.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sakshi Hans, Alexandra Karadimou, John J. E. Mulvihill, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Ioannis Zabetakis
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by progressive loss of brain function. Dietary intake of macro- and micro-nutrients, particularly lipids, can significantly affect cognitive function. Although the importance of functional foods in preventing cardiovascular disease is well-documented, their significance for central nervous system health and neurodegenerative diseases is less recognized. The composition of the gut microbiome affects cognitive health, and dietary lipids have been shown to influence gut health.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Neluwa-Liyanage R. Indika, Richard E. Frye, Daniel A. Rossignol, Susan C. Owens, Udara D. Senarathne, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Rasika Perera, Marielle P. K. J. Engelen, Nicolaas E. P. Deutz
Summary: Children with autism spectrum disorder may have nutritional deficiencies due to various factors and supplementing vitamins, minerals, and cofactors can be beneficial for their metabolic pathways and neurotransmitter functioning. Some vitamins can be administered at higher doses than usual to yield effects beyond their enzyme cofactor role. The interrelationships between these nutrients can also be leveraged for synergistic effects. This review discusses the evidence, rationale, and prospects for using vitamins, minerals, and cofactors in autism spectrum disorder.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ausra Matuleviciene, Kamile Siauryte, Els Kuiper, Andreas M. Grabrucker
Summary: This review summarizes the gastrointestinal (GI) problems in Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) and addresses the fundamental questions regarding the occurrence, types, consequences, and treatment of GI problems in individuals with PMS. The findings highlight the detrimental effect of GI problems on the health of PMS individuals and the significant burden they pose for their families, emphasizing the need for evaluation and care recommendations.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ewa Dudzinska, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Pawel Kwiatkowski, Robert Sitarz, Monika Sienkiewicz
Summary: Visceral stimuli from the digestive tract are transmitted to the brain via nerves, causing overreaction in the brain of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Stress and dysbiosis can lead to inflammation and gastrointestinal hypersensitivity. Treating IBS involves reducing visceral hypersensitivity and regulating the intestinal microbiota.