Materials coming from renewable resources have drawn recently an increased attention in various applications as an eco-friendly alternative in the synthesis of novel functional materials. Polysaccharides, with their prominent representative – chitosan (CS), are well-known for their sorption properties, being able to remove metal ions from dilute solutions either by electrostatic interactions or chelation. In this context, we proposed here a comparative study on Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, and Cr3+ metal ions removal from industrial wastewaters by CS-based composite cryogels using batch technique. The composite cryogels consisting of CS embedding a natural zeolite, namely clinoptilolite, were synthesized by cryogelation, and their sorption performance were compared to those of CS cryogels and of acid-activated zeolite. A deeper analysis of thermodynamics and kinetics sorption data was performed to get insights into the sorption mechanism of all metal ions onto sorbents. Based on the optimized sorption conditions, the removal of the above-mentioned ions from aqueous solutions by the composite sorbent using dynamic technique was also evaluated.Implementing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs is central to optimise antimicrobial use in primary care. This study aims to assess general practitioners’ (GPs’) awareness of AMS, uptake of AMS strategies, attitudes towards GP-pharmacist collaboration in AMS and future AMS improvement strategies. check details A paper-based survey of nationally representative GPs across Australia was conducted in 2019. Of 386 respondent GPs, 68.9% were familiar with AMS. Respondents most frequently used the Therapeutic Guidelines (TG) (83.2%, 321/385) and delayed antimicrobial prescribing (72.2%, 278/385) strategies, whereas few utilised point-of-care tests (18.4%, 71/382), patient information leaflets (20.2%, 78/384), peer prescribing reports (15.5%, 60/384) and audit and feedback (9.8%, 38/384). GPs were receptive to pharmacists’ recommendations on the choice (50.5%, 192/381) and dose (63%, 241/382) of antimicrobials, and more than 60% (235/381) supported a policy fostering increased GP-pharmacist collaboration. Most GPs agreed to have AMS training (72%, 278/386), integration of electronic TG (eTG) with prescribing software (88.3%, 341/386) and policies limiting the prescribing of selected antimicrobials (74.4%, 287/386) in the future. Conclusively, GPs are aware of the importance of judicious antimicrobial prescribing but inadequately uptake evidence-based AMS strategies. The majority of GPs support GP-pharmacist collaborative AMS approaches to optimise antimicrobial use. Developing a feasible GP-pharmacist collaborative AMS implementation model and facilitating stewardship resources and training could foster AMS activities in primary care.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although the etiology of MS is still unknown, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Acetylcholine participates in the modulation of central and peripheral inflammation. The cells of the immune system, as well as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes express cholinergic markers and receptors of muscarinic and nicotinic type. The role played by acetylcholine in MS has been recently investigated. In the present review, we summarize the evidence indicating the cholinergic dysfunction in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of relapsing-remitting (RR)-MS patients and in the brains of the MS animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The correlation between the increased activity of the cholinergic hydrolyzing enzymes acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, the reduced levels of acetylcholine and the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines production were recently described in immune cells of MS patients. Moreover, the genetic polymorphisms for both hydrolyzing enzymes and the possible correlation with the altered levels of their enzymatic activity have been also reported. Finally, the changes in cholinergic markers expression in the central nervous system of EAE mice in peak and chronic phases suggest the involvement of the acetylcholine also in neuro-inflammatory processes.Oral health is considered an important factor of general health and it contributes to the quality of life. Despite the raising awareness of preventive measures, the prevalence of oral health conditions continues to increase. In this context, a growing interest in investigating natural resources like Vitis vinifera (V. link2 vinifera) phenolic compounds (PhCs) as oral health promoters has emerged. This paper aims to review the evidence about the bioactivities of V. link3 vinifera by-products in oral health. Up to date, a high number of studies have thoroughly reported the antimicrobial and antiplaque activity of V. vinifera extracts against S. mutans or in multi-species biofilms. Moreover, the bioactive compounds from V. vinifera by-products have been shown to modulate the periodontal inflammatory response and the underlying oxidative stress imbalance induced by the pathogenic bacteria. Considering these beneficial effects, the utility of V. vinifera by-products in the maintaining of oral health and the necessary steps towards the development of oral care products were emphasized. In conclusion, the high potential of V. vinifera by-products could be valorized in the development of oral hygiene products with multi-target actions in the prevention and progression of several oral conditions.Drought stress is a major environmental stress, which adversely affects the biological and molecular processes of plants, thereby impairing their growth and development. In the present study, we found that the expression level of OsTBP2.2 which encodes for a nucleus-localized protein member belonging to transcription factor IID (TFIID) family, was significantly induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. Therefore, knockdown mutants of OsTBP2.2 gene were generated to investigate the role of OsTBP2.2 in rice response to drought stress. Under the condition of drought stress, the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, and stomatal conductance were significantly reduced in ostbp2.2 lines compared with wild type, Dongjin (WT-DJ). Furthermore, the RNA-seq results showed that several main pathways involved in „MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway”, „phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, „defense response” and „ADP (adenosine diphosphate) binding” were altered significantly in ostbp2.2. We also found that OsPIP2;6, OsPAO and OsRCCR1 genes were down-regulated in ostbp2.2 compared with WT-DJ, which may be one of the reasons that inhibit photosynthesis. Our findings suggest that OsTBP2.2 may play a key role in rice growth and the regulation of photosynthesis under drought stress and it may possess high potential usefulness in molecular breeding of drought-tolerant rice.Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive solid malignancies due to the rapid rate of metastasis and high resistance to currently applied cancer therapies. The complex mechanism underlying the development and progression of PDAC includes interactions between genomic, epigenomic, and signaling pathway alterations. In this review, we summarize the current research findings on the deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms in PDAC and the influence of the epigenome on the dynamics of the gene expression changes underlying epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is responsible for the invasive phenotype of cancer cells and, therefore, their metastatic potential. More importantly, we provide an overview of the studies that uncover potentially actionable pathways. These studies provide a scientific basis to test epigenetic drug efficacy in synergy with other anticancer therapies in future clinical trials, in order to reverse acquired therapy resistance. Thus, epigenomics has the potential to generate relevant new knowledge of both a biological and clinical impact. Moreover, the potential, hurdles, and challenges of predictive biomarker discoveries will be discussed, with a special focus on the promise of liquid biopsies.Milk fat is a dietary source of fatty acids (FA), which can be health promoting or can increase risks of some diseases. FA profile composition depends on many factors, among them gene polymorphism. This study analyzed the relation between polymorphism of acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACACA), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) genes with FA profile in milk from Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle and determined changes of FA percentage during lactation with regard to polymorphism. Milk samples were collected twice during the first phase of lactation ( G SNP in ACACA gene, A293V SNP in SCD1 gene, and K232A SNP in DGAT1 gene. Increased concentration of FA that are less beneficial for human health and have lower concentration of healthy FA in homozygotes GG in ACACA, VV in SCD1, and KK in DGAT1 were observed, as well as a strong influence of the analyzed genes on FA with 18C atoms was also found. Moreover, it was demonstrated that lactation phase significantly affected FA percentage in milk depending on the phenotype. These results may contribute their part to knowledge toward obtaining more beneficial milk composition.The L-Arginine/NO pathway is involved in carcinogenesis and immunity. Its diagnostic and prognostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC) was determined using tandem mass spectrometry in 199 individuals (137 with CRC) and, during a three-day follow up, in 60 patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Citrulline was decreased and asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginines and dimethylamine (DMA) were increased in CRC. The DMA increase corresponded with CRC advancement while arginine, ADMA, and SDMA levels were higher in left-sided cancers. Arginine, citrulline, ADMA, and DMA dropped and SDMA increased post incision. Females experienced a more substantial drop in arginine. The arginine and ADMA dynamics depended on blood loss. The initial SDMA increase was higher in patients requiring transfusions. Postoperative dynamics in arginine and dimethylarginines differed in robot-assisted and open surgery. Concomitant SDMA, citrulline, and DMA quantification displayed a 92% accuracy in detecting CRC. Monitoring changes in arginine, ADMA, and SDMA in the early postoperative period predicted postoperative ileus with 84% and surgical site infections with 90% accuracy. Changes in ADMA predicted operative morbidity with 90% and anastomotic leakage with 77% accuracy. If positively validated, L-arginine/NO pathway metabolites may facilitate CRC screening and surveillance, support differential diagnosis, and assist in clinical decision-making regarding patients recovering from colorectal surgery.Perilla oil has been considered to have excellent potential for treating various diseases due to its contents of beneficial fatty acids, such as α-linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. The therapeutic effects and molecular mechanism of an α-linolenic acid-enriched cold-pressed perilla oil (LEP) on hepatic steatosis of an obesity model were investigated by analyzing alterations in fat accumulation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated autophagy, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity C57BL/6N mice treated with LEP for 16 weeks. Although no significant alterations were detected in body weight and most organ weights, the liver weight and accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver section were significantly lower in HFD + LEP treated group as compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Reduced mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis and lipogenesis regulating factors, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2) were observed after LEP treatment for 16 weeks, while the levels of lipolysis were remarkably increased in the same group.