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A hydrolyzed protein is a blend of peptides and amino acids which is the result of hydrolysis by enzymes, acids or alkalis. The Bioactive Peptides (BPs) show important biological roles including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-hypertensive effects, as well as positive effects on the immune, nervous, and digestive systems. Despite the benefits of BPs, challenges such as undesired organoleptic properties, solubility profile, chemical instability, and low bioavailability limit their use in functional food formulations and dietary supplements. Nanocarriers have emerged as a promising solution for overcoming these challenges by improving the stability, solubility, resistance to gastric digestion, and bioavailability, allowing for the targeted and controlled delivery, and reduction or masking of the undesirable flavor of BPs. This study reviews the recent scientific accomplishments concerning the loading of BPs into various nanocarriers including lipid, carbohydrate and protein based-nanocarriers. A special emphasis is given to their application in food formulations in accordance to the challenges associated with their use., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Considering the antioxidant properties of endurance training, this study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance training on serum levels of oxidative stress and structural changes in the kidney tissue of rats exposed to X-ray irradiation., Methods: In this experimental study, 24 rats weighing 220±20 g were randomly divided into four groups (healthy control, healthy with moderate-intensity continuous training, X-ray control, and X-ray with moderate-intensity continuous training). The two groups of rats were irradiated with 4 Gy X-rays. The two training groups also performed moderate-intensity continuous training for 10 weeks. Twenty-four hour after the last training session, the blood serum of rats was collected and kidney tissue was isolated for stereological studies., Results: In this study, X-ray irradiation of the whole body of rats caused a significant increase in kidney volume, cortex volume, interstitial tissue volume, glomerular volume, and serum level of MDA (p≤0.05), but the medulla volume, volume of proximal tubules (total volume, volume of epithelium, and lumen), volume of distal tubules (total volume, volume of epithelium, and lumen), and the length of the proximal and distal tubules had no effect. In addition, TAC and SOD levels were significantly decreased in the radiation control group. Furthermore, performing endurance training in X-ray-irradiated rats significantly reduced kidney volume, cortex volume, glomerular volume, and serum MDA level (p≤0.05)., Conclusions: Moderate-intensity continuous training can improve the rate of destruction of kidney tissue in rats exposed to X-rays by reducing oxidative stress and subsequently increasing antioxidant capacity., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Introduction: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) offer remarkable competencies for animal reproduction and overcoming human disease as a result of their differentiation capability. We evaluated the effect of small molecule pifithrin-mu (PFT-µ), a well-known inhibitor of P53 on SSC biological processes such as viability, apoptosis, and gene expression pattern., Methods: The SSCs were isolated from the testes of adult NMRI mice and then cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing 10% FBS. Then, they were characterized by the immunocytochemistry technique by high PLZF and low c-Kit expressions. SSC colony formation assay was carried out and their viability was estimated by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT, or 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay upon exposure to PFT-µ (0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, and 5 µm). The apoptosis percentages were also measured using FACS analysis, and finally, Oct4 and Stra8 expression at mRNA levels was assessed using real-time quantitative PCR., Results: The 0.6 and 1.2 µm PFT-µ improved the viability of SSC based on MTT assay results; however, 2.5 and 5 µm PFT-µ reduced SSC viability compared with the control group. Moreover, PFT-µ at lower concentrations enhanced the colony size of SSCs and diminished their apoptosis. As well, exposure to PFT-µ upregulated Oct4 expression while downregulating the meiotic entry marker, Stra8., Conclusion: Based on findings, optimized concentrations of PFT-µ can decrease SSC apoptosis, and conversely potentiate their pluripotency and self-renewal capacities in vitro., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)