ABSTRACT
Polystyrene microplastics, extensively considered endocrine disrupting chemicals, disturb the reproductive system of living organisms. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the reproductive endocrinopathy, is longstanding concern due to its eternal impacts as reproductive disorder and infertility. Despite several reports in reproductive and endocrine toxicity, there is inadequate literature regarding the daily intake of polystyrene-microplastics via drinking water in causing PCOS and leading to ovarian fibrosis in long-term. The present study investigated whether daily consumption of polystyrene-microplastics at doses equivalent to human exposure can cause PCOS and progress to ovarian fibrosis, using female zebrafish as model. Resembling letrozole-PCOS zebrafish model, daily intake of polystyrene-microplastics displayed hallmark PCOS pathophysiology; like excess body weight and %Gonadosomatic index, decreased Follicle Stimulating Hormone and ß-estradiol, increased Luteinising Hormone, brain and ovarian Testosterone (39.3% and 75% respectively). Correspondingly, ovarian histology revealed more developing (stage I and II) oocytes and less mature oocytes alongwith cystic lesions; like follicular membrane disorganization, zona pellucida invagination, theca hypertrophy, basophilic granular accumulation and oocyte buddings. Lipid deposition in intestinal and ovarian tissues was evidenced and increased fasting blood glucose manifesting insulin resistance. The expression of PCOS biomarkers (tox3, dennd1a, fem1a) was significantly disturbed. Polystyrene microplastics played vital role in inducing PCOS further enhancing oxidative stress, which positively influences inflammation and aggravate ovarian mitophagy, shedding light on its ability to harshen PCOS into ovarian fibrosis, which is characterized by collagen deposition and upregulation of pro-fibrogenic biomarker genes. These findings illustrate the potential of daily microplastics intake via drinking water in triggering PCOS and its progression to ovarian fibrosis.
Subject(s)
Drinking Water , Fibrosis , Microplastics , Ovary , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome , Polystyrenes , Zebrafish , Animals , Female , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/chemically induced , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/pathology , Microplastics/toxicity , Microplastics/adverse effects , Polystyrenes/adverse effects , Polystyrenes/toxicity , Drinking Water/adverse effects , Drinking Water/chemistry , Ovary/pathology , Ovary/drug effects , Ovary/metabolism , Fibrosis/chemically induced , Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity , Water Pollutants, Chemical/adverse effects , Disease Models, AnimalABSTRACT
One of the observed complications in patients after intestinal transplantation is the occurrence of ulcers in the native or transplanted gastrointestinal tract. Previous reports have described the appearance of ulcers but have not described any systemic approach to accurately diagnose the etiology of the ulcer. We evaluated 112 intestinal transplantation patients at our institution, in which endoscopic examination identified ulcer formation in 11 patients. No common or defining demographic or clinical variables were found in the patients with ulcers. Biopsies were obtained from the ulcer edge as well as the intervening mucosa. The most common changes in the ulcers were compatible with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), acute rejection, and viral infections. These changes could occur simultaneously and retrospective analysis showed that ulcers could have concomitant etiologies. Endoscopically directed biopsies of ulcer edges often displayed morphologic changes compatible with acute rejection of the graft. Some patients were treated for rejection based on the changes within the mucosa outside the ulcer bed, and they responded with resolution of the ulcers. Our findings demonstrate that PTLD and acute rejection are the most common causes of chronic ulcer formation and reinforce the concept that biopsy samples should be collected simultaneously from both the ulcer edge and intervening mucosa.
Subject(s)
Graft Rejection/complications , Intestines/transplantation , Lymphoproliferative Disorders/complications , Peptic Ulcer/etiology , Peptic Ulcer/therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Female , Gastroschisis/surgery , Hirschsprung Disease/surgery , Humans , Infant , Male , Peptic Ulcer/pathologyABSTRACT
We report here "strain glass," a new glassy phenomenon in ferroelastic-martensitic system of Ni-rich intermetallic Ti(50-x)Ni(50+x) (x > 1), where local strain is frozen in disordered configuration below a critical temperature Tg. The ac elastic modulus shows a minimum at Tg, which exhibits logarithmic frequency dependence following Vogel-Fulcher relationship, and the corresponding internal friction shows a frequency-dependent peak located at a lower temperature. In situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal uncorrelated nanoclusters of martensiticlike phase, randomly frozen in the otherwise untransformed parentlike matrix. Being parallel to spin glass and relaxor, strain glass may shed new light on the fundamental physics of glass and lead to the discovery of novel properties.
