Cadmium modulates intestinal Wnt/ß-catenin signaling ensuing intestinal barrier disruption and systemic inflammation.

The intricate architecture of the intestinal epithelium, crucial for nutrient absorption, is constantly threatened by environmental factors. The epithelium undergoes rapid turnover, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis, under the control of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). The central regulator, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling plays a key role in intestinal integrity and turnover. Despite its significance, the impact of environmental factors on this pathway has been largely overlooked. This study, for the first time, investigates the influence of Cd on the intestinal Wnt signaling pathway using a mouse model. In this study, male BALB/c mice were administered an environmentally relevant Cd dose (0.98 mg/kg) through oral gavage to investigate the intestinal disruption and Wnt signaling pathway. Various studies, including histopathology, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, western blotting, ELISA, intestinal permeability assay, and flow cytometry, were conducted to study Cd-induced changes in the intestine. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway experienced significant downregulation as a result of sub-chronic Cd exposure, which caused extensive damage throughout the small intestine. Increased intestinal permeability and a skewed immune response were also observed. To confirm that Wnt signaling downregulation is the key driver of Cd-induced gastrointestinal toxicity, mice were co-exposed to LiCl (a recognized Wnt activator) and Cd. The results clearly showed that the harmful effects of Cd could be reversed, which is strong evidence that Cd mostly damages the intestine through the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling axis. In conclusion, this research advances the current understanding of the role of Wnt/ß catenin signaling in gastrointestinal toxicity caused by diverse environmental pollutants.

Gender Disparities in First Authorship in Publications Related to Attention Deficit Hyperkinetic Disorder (ADHD) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The medical profession has experienced a significant increase in the number of women practitioners in recent decades, leading to a reduction in the gender gap. According to the United States Medical Association, approximately 25% of physicians in the United States are now women. Although this progress is evident in the clinical setting, women's representation in academic medicine remains disproportionately low. The underrepresentation of women in academia has various consequences, including limited access to academic resources and hindered career growth. Previous studies have attempted to analyze these disparities, but results have been inconsistent, and the issue's complexity has not been fully understood. This study aims to examine the disparity in the gender of first authors in academic publications related to " Artificial intelligence (AI) and Attention Deficit Hyperkinetic Disorder (ADHD)" between 2010 and 2023. Analysis was conducted on June 21st, 2023, using the database PubMed. The search term "AI" AND "ADHD" was used to derive all articles over a period of 13 years, from January 1st, 2010, to December 31st, 2022, excluding the year 2023 due to limited available publications. The relevant articles were downloaded in Microsoft Excel sheets. The gender of the first authors was determined using the NamSor app V.2, an application programming interface (API) with a large dataset of names and countries of origin. A total of 204 articles were considered for this study. There were 78 female first authors and 126 male first authors. The highest number of publications with a male first author occurred in 2022, with 32 publications. The Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, and China have the highest gender ratios, indicating a more favourable representation of both genders. The p-value of 0.2664 suggests that there is no significant association between gender and country. The findings revealed a gender disparity, with a higher number of male first authors. By addressing and rectifying these disparities, we can enhance the overall quality, diversity, and inclusivity of research in the field of ADHD and Artificial Intelligence.