The study of adverse effects of chemicals, including mechanisms of toxicity, risk assessment, environmental toxicology, forensic toxicology, and regulatory toxicology
17 papersThis study suggests a link between cannabis use and lower success rates in IVF, potentially due to impaired egg quality and chromosomal abnormalities. However, the in vitro part used immature eggs from IVF patients, which might not reflect normal egg development, and the retrospective study relied on self-reported cannabis use, which can be unreliable.
Researchers developed Fentanyl-Hunter, a new platform combining machine learning and molecular networking to detect fentanyl and its metabolites in various samples like wastewater and urine. The platform successfully identified known and novel fentanyl metabolites, suggesting wider use than previously thought.
This article is not a scientific paper but a dedication to Dr. Yuzo Hayashi, an eminent toxicologist who made significant contributions to the field of food safety assessment, especially regarding amino acids. It details his career, accomplishments, and impact on the field, highlighting his work with international organizations and his role in establishing good manufacturing practices.
This rat study found changes in liver proteins and metabolites after two years of exposure to very low doses of Roundup, resembling those seen in human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the changes were small, and other factors could be involved. More research is needed to establish a causal link.
This computational study suggests that glyphosate may contribute to kidney damage and cancer by interfering with proteins involved in maintaining tissue structure (MMPs and PLG) and by disrupting nitrogen metabolism. These are computer predictions that need to be validated in the lab.
This in vitro study using BeWo cells found that cannabidiol (CBD) may disrupt placental development by impairing trophoblast differentiation, fusion, and mitochondrial function, possibly through oxidative stress and dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system. However, the CBD concentrations used were higher than those observed in typical cannabis users and the study was done in a lab setting, making human relevance unclear. More research using more realistic models is needed.
This study on mice found that in utero exposure to e-cigarette aerosol containing propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) alters craniofacial development in their pups. The 30/70 PG/VG mixture caused a greater reduction in facial and cranial growth compared to the 50/50 PG/VG mixture and controls, contrary to the initial hypothesis. Postnatal weight was also reduced in the 30/70 PG/VG group, though still within normal range for this mouse model.
This case study describes a man who developed bromism (bromide poisoning) after following dietary advice he received from an AI chatbot. He had asked the AI for a chloride-free alternative to sodium chloride, and it suggested sodium bromide, which is toxic. This highlights the risks of using AI for medical advice without expert verification.
In a study of Swedish healthcare workers, different COVID-19 vaccine regimens were associated with varying rates of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), leading to significant sick leave in 12-48% of participants depending on the vaccine. The heterologous regimens and Spikevax were associated with the highest rates of side effects. Younger age and female sex correlated with increased risk of ADRs.
This study found much higher concentrations of inhalable microplastics (<10 μm) inside homes and cars than previously estimated, due to methodological advancements in measuring these tiny particles. They also highlighted the potential impact of this higher exposure, as these small particles can penetrate deeper into our lungs. Inhalation health impacts are extrapolated but require further detailed studies.
This study found that human gut bacteria can accumulate high levels of PFAS, even at environmentally relevant concentrations, and this accumulation is increased in the absence of efflux pumps in *E. coli*. Experiments in mice colonized with human gut bacteria showed they excrete more PFAS in their feces than germ-free mice, suggesting that gut bacteria can influence PFAS levels in the host. Further research is needed to determine the long-term consequences of PFAS bioaccumulation on the gut microbiome and its impact on human health, especially under chronic low-dose exposure conditions.
Disrupting serotonin signaling, specifically via 5-HT2B receptors, impairs the migration of cardiac neural crest cells in chick embryos. This leads to structural defects in the heart, including gaps in the aorticopulmonary septum and interventricular septal defects, potentially due to decreased cNCC proliferation.
Pharmaceutical contamination is widespread in the world's rivers, with the highest cumulative concentrations found in low-to-middle-income countries. This pollution poses a threat to both environmental and human health, potentially exceeding safe levels for aquatic organisms and contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
This UK study found that about a quarter of adults screen positive for a blood-injection-injury phobia, and these folks are twice as likely to report COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. If this fear was poof, gone, about 1 in 10 cases of reported vaccine hesitancy might vanish too.
Oxidative methylation of diaryltellurides enhances their Lewis acidity and chalcogen-bonding properties, resulting in improved chloride anion transport across lipid bilayers. This effect is attributed to the lowering of tellurium-centered σ* orbitals and deepening of associated σ-holes upon oxidation, making telluronium cations more effective anion transporters than their neutral precursors.
This study found that emodin, a natural compound from Chinese herbs, inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models by increasing the expression of SerRS, a transcriptional repressor of VEGFA. Emodin directly interacts with NCOR2, leading to its dissociation from the SerRS promoter and subsequent SerRS activation.
This study found JAK inhibitors were associated with increased reporting of infections, embolism/thrombosis, neoplasms, and gastrointestinal perforations. While some of these were already known, it raises further concerns about malignancies and gastrointestinal issues, though major cardiovascular events were not significantly associated.