Papers

Microplastics exposed by respiratory tract and exacerbation of community-acquired pneumonia: The potential influences of respiratory microbiota and inflammatory factors

Researchers found that microplastics were present in the lungs of pneumonia patients, and that patients with severe pneumonia had higher levels of microplastics in their airways than those with milder cases. The microplastics appeared to worsen lung infections by disrupting the balance of airway bacteria and increasing inflammation. This study provides early evidence that inhaled microplastics may make respiratory infections more dangerous in humans.

Quercetin intervention mitigates small intestinal damage and immunologic derangement induced by polystyrene nanoplastics: Insights from multi-omics analysis in mice

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables, protected mice from gut damage and immune system disruption caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. The nanoplastics damaged the small intestine and disrupted immune balance, but quercetin reversed much of this harm by restoring healthy gut bacteria and gene activity. This suggests that dietary compounds like quercetin might help counteract some negative health effects of nanoplastic exposure.

Microplastics release from infant feeding bottles and milk storage bags

Microplastic-associated gut microbial profile and antibiotic resistance in preschool children: a multicentre cross-sectional study in China

In a multicentre study of 335 preschool children across three Chinese cities, researchers detected eight types of microplastics in fecal samples at a median concentration of 212.1 micrograms per gram. The study found that microplastic exposure was associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and function, including metabolic pathways related to macronutrients and vitamins, as well as a relationship with antibiotic resistance gene abundance.

Fabrication of a nonwoven fabric-based multifunctional mulch film with Cr(VI) remediation capacity

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in urban rivers of Songjiang District, Shanghai

Microplastics were found throughout urban river sections in Shanghai, China, with concentrations reflecting local population density and land use patterns. Urban rivers are a significant pathway for microplastic contamination flowing into coastal and marine environments.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammatory response in mice via suppressing TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis

Researchers investigated whether dexmedetomidine (DEX), a sedative agent, alleviates intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammatory responses in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis, finding that DEX suppresses the TLR4/MyD88/NF-kB signaling pathway to reduce epithelial cell apoptosis and inflammation. The results suggest that DEX may have therapeutic potential for protecting intestinal barrier integrity in inflammatory bowel conditions.