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Monday, 10 July
14:09
US Sending Most Deadly of All Weapons to Ukraine That Kills More Civilian Than Soldiers "IndyWatch Feed World"
Cluster Bombs kill more civilians than soldiers and are one of the most lethal weapons that destroy any territory. More than 120 countries have signed on to an international treaty banning the weapons, which typically scatter a large number of smaller so-called bomblets over a large area that can kill or maim unwary civilians months or years later. The United States refuses to sign the treaty. Our Neocons block anything to reduce their blood-thirsty hatred of Russians and Chinese.
The United States is kept divided, using abortion and LGBTQ and pushing transgender on minor children all to divert our attention from the cold hard reality that the United States has undergone a coup where the Neocons are now in full control of the government and intend to wage world war III. There is no way they will allow Trump to win, nor will they allow RFK Jr. Biden will win, and the CIA, etc, will ensure the vote is rigged in 2024. There is no way they will allow anyone to come to Washington to stop this war they have dreamed about their entire lives.
The US has maintained that Cluster Bombs are a war crime in themselves. Yet, the United States intends to now send...
03:26
Youre Not Allowed to Not Allow Me Indie Birth
Wow, I had fun with this one! We posted a reel this week on Instagram of a beautiful Closing of the Bones ceremony that we offered a mama we served. This podcast is a combo of describing that to you AND offering my very transparent truth around this idea of cultural appropriation. I wont spoil []
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Sunday, 09 July
12:22
Oleuropein attenuates oxidative stress in human trophoblast cells. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jan 14 ;12(1). Epub 2023 Jan 14. PMID: 36671060 Abstract Title: Oleuropein Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Human Trophoblast Cells. Abstract: Olive-derived bioactive compound oleuropein was evaluated against damage induced by hydrogen peroxide in human trophoblast cells, by examining the changes in several markers implicated in oxidative stress interactions in the placenta. Trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cells were preincubated with OLE at 10 and 100M and exposed to HO, as a model of oxidative stress. Protein and lipid peroxidation, as well as antioxidant enzymes' activity, were determined spectrophotometrically, and DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay. iNOS protein expression was assessed by Western blot, while the mRNA expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genesandand transcription factor, as well as cytokinesandwere determined by qPCR. Oleuropein demonstrated cytoprotective effects against HOin trophoblast cells by significantly improving the antioxidant status and preventing protein and lipid damage, as well as reducing the iNOS levels. OLE reduced the mRNA expression ofandhowever, it did not influence the expression ofor theratio after HOexposure. Oleuropein per se did not lead to any adverse effects in HTR-8/SVneo cells under the described conditions, confirming its safety. In conclusion, it significantly attenuated oxidative damage and restored antioxidant functioning, confirming its protective role in trophoblast.
Saturday, 08 July
21:38
45% of US drinking water contaminated with 'forever chemicals' that lead to infertility, cancer, hormone issues: report "IndyWatch Feed World"
In a study released by the US Geological Survey (USGS) on Wednesday, harmful per- and polyfluorene alkyl substances (PFAS) are estimated to contaminate at least 45 percent of drinking water in the United States, with most of the concentration near urban areas. According to the USGS, PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in a wide array of commonly used items such as non-stick pans, fire extinguisher foam, food packaging products that are grease resistant, and more. They take a long time to break down and are commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." The study tested 716 different locations across the country and found about 75 percent of tap water in urban areas and 25 percent of rural areas with PFAS tested in the tap water. There are over 12,000 types of PFAS, and the study only tested 32 of them as not all can be detected with current tests. Areas with higher concentrations include the Great Plains, the Great Lakes, the Eastern Seaboard, and Central and Southern California.
21:05
George Musser Talks With Michael Levin For Nautilus "IndyWatch Feed World"
Nautilus is not one of our go-to sources for inspiration, but with conversations like this it is obvious we should be paying more attention to their work. Thanks to George Musser for this article:
The Biologist Blowing Our Minds
Michael Levin is uncovering the incredible, latent abilities of living things.
Michael Levin, a developmental biologist at Tufts University, has a knack for taking an unassuming organism and showing its capable of the darnedest things. He and his team once extracted skin cells from a frog embryo and cultivated them on their own. With no other cell types around, they were not bullied, as he put it, into forming skin tissue. Instead, they reassembled into a new organism of sorts, a ...
11:19
Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Rosa canina L. fruit on cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Avicenna J Phytomed. 2023 ;13(1):7-17. PMID: 36698735 Abstract Title: Protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract ofL. fruit on cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced testicular toxicity has been reported in recipient patients. The current study was designed to evaluate protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract ofL. fruit (HARF) against CP-induced testicular toxicity in BALB/c mice.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five mice were divided into five groups as follows: group I (control), group II (CP, received CP 100 mg/kg on days 1, 8, 15, and 22), group III (CP + HARF 250 mg/kg), group IV (CP + HARF 500 mg/kg), and group V (CP + HARF 750 mg/kg). In the groups III, IV, and V that received CP, the HARF was simultaneously administered via intraperitoneal injections for 28 consecutive days starting from day 1. On the 29day, sperm parameters, stress oxidative biomarkers, and mRNA expression ofin testis tissue, as well as blood testosterone were evaluated.RESULTS: The CP exposure decreased sperm parameters, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, testosterone, andmRNA expression levels and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA). HARF at the dose of 500 mg/kg improved sperm count and viability and increased SOD and catalase activities, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, testosterone level, andexpression and reduced MDA. Also, HARF at the dose of 750 mg/kg improved sperm parameters and increased SOD, catalase, and GPx activities, total testosterone level, andexpression, and reduced MDA in comparison with the CP group.CONCLUSION: According to our findings, HARF at the doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg inhibited the ruinous effects of CP on the reproductive system in mice.
10:00
GM Children: Film Unveils 'Monstrous' Child Deformities "IndyWatch Feed Health"
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published August 25, 2018.
The shocking film "Genetically Modified Children" unveils the horrors of decades of chemical-intensive agricultural practices in Argentina, where the majority of crops are genetically modified (GM) and routinely doused in dangerous agrochemicals, and the chokehold big tobacco companies such as Philip Morris and chemical and seed giants have on poverty-stricken farmers desperate to earn a living.
The film, produced by Juliette Igier and Stephanie Lebrun, shows the devastating health effects the region's agricultural sector is having on children,1 an increasing number of whom are being born with monstrous physical deformities. Some of the children's cases are so severe that, without a medical intervention, will result in death before the age of 5.
The film begins with the crew traveling from North Argentina in the Province of Misiones to the Brazilian frontier, an agricultural region that was one of the nation's first to begin growing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the mid-'90s.
Featured in the film is Ricardo Rivero, regional head of the local electricity company. He learned that the reason families cannot pay their bills is because often they are taking care of a sick or handicapped child, and receiving no assistance from the Argentinian government.
The film shows them visiting the humble home of a tobacco farmer where they meet Lucas Texeira, a 5-year-old boy with an incurable genetic skin disease. The family believes it was caused by the mother's exposure to Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller early on in her pregnancy. No one told her it was toxic, she says.
The genetic mutation that caused her son's condition left him with no pores in his skin, which means he doesn't perspire. The heat from his body stays inside, causing him severe and painful itching that leads to frequent crying spells. Mr. Texeira expresses his sadness over Lucas' condition, as well as his fears that he could have another child in the future with a similar deformity.
Agrochemicals Lead to Rise in Birth Defects, Deformities
Like many families in rural Argentina, the Texeiras have grown GM tobacco on their land for years, using a number of various agrochemicals required to produce a crop that's certifiable by Philip Morris, an American multinational cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company (a division of Altria Company since 2003).
Philip Morris provides farmers GM burley tobacco seeds for the manufacturer of light tobacco cigarettes. Each year, Argentinian farme...
09:03
Quercetin protects against levetiracetam induced gonadotoxicity. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Toxicology. 2023 Jun 1 ;491:153518. Epub 2023 Apr 23. PMID: 37098359 Abstract Title: Quercetin protects against levetiracetam induced gonadotoxicity in rats. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether quercetin may counteract the negative effects of levetiracetam on rat reproductive capabilities by examining its influence on a few reproductive parameters following levetiracetam administration. Twenty (20) experimental rats were employed, with five (n = 5) animals per treatment group. Rats in group 1 received saline (10 mL/kg, p.o.) which served as control. Quercetin (20 mg/kg, p.o./day) was given to groups 2 and 4 for 28 days starting from 29 to 56 days, respectively. However, animals in groups 3-4 received LEV (300 mg/kg) once daily for 56 days with a 30-minute break in between treatments. All rats had their serum sex hormone levels, sperm characteristics, testicular antioxidant capability, and levels of oxido-inflammatory/apoptotic mediators evaluated. Additionally, the expression of proteins associated to BTB, autophagy, stress response was examined in rat testes. LEV increased sperm morphological defects and decreased sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm count body weight and testes weight, MDA and 8OHdG levels in the testis of LEV-treated rats were elevated, while antioxidant enzyme expression was concurrently decreased. Additionally, it reduced the levels of serum gonadotropins, testosterone, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome C liberation into the cytosol from the mitochondria. Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 activity increased. While Bcl-2, Cx-43, Nrf2, HO-1, mTOR, and Atg-7 levels were lowered, NOX-1, TNF-, NF-k, IL-1, and tDFI levels increased. Histopathological scoring provided further support for the decreased spermatogenesis. In contrast to all of these gonadotoxic effects of LEV, improvements in LEV-induced gonadal damage were seen through upregulation of Nrf2/ HO-1, Cx-43/NOX-1, mTOR/Atg-7 expression and attenuation of hypogonadism, poor sperm quality, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and oxidative inflammation due to quercetin post-treatment. The modulation of Nrf2/HO-1, /mTOR/Atg-7 and Cx-43/NOX-1 levels and the inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and oxido-inflammation in LEV-induced gonadotoxicity in rats suggest that quercetin may hold promise as a possible therapeutic treatment.
06:49
Protective role of kelulut honey against toxicity effects of polystyrene microplastics on morphology, hormones, and sex steroid receptor expression. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Toxics. 2023 Mar 29 ;11(4). Epub 2023 Mar 29. PMID: 37112551 Abstract Title: Protective Role of Kelulut Honey against Toxicity Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Morphology, Hormones, and Sex Steroid Receptor Expression in the Uterus of Rats. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging global pollutant. Previous studies have revealed that chronic exposure to MPs can affect animal and human reproductive health, particularly by impairing the reproductive system's normal functions, which may increase the risk of infertility in both males and females. Kelulut honey (KH), an excellent source of antioxidants, has been used to counteract the disruptive effects of Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in the rat uterus. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Kelulut honey against PS-MPs-induced uterine toxicity in pubertal rats.METHODS: Prepubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): (i) normal control group (NC: treated with deionized water), MPs-exposed group (M: exposed to PS-MPs at 2.5 mg/kg), (iii) Kelulut honey group (DM: pretreated with 1200 mg/kg of KH 30 minutes before they were administered with PS-MPs at 2.5 mg/kg), and (iv) Kelulut honey control group (DC: only treated with KH at 2.5 mg/kg). The rats were treated orally once daily for six consecutive weeks.RESULTS: Uterine abnormalities in PS-MPs-exposed rats were significantly improved after concurrent treatment with Kelulut honey. Morphology improvement was observed and luminal epithelial cells seemed thicker with more goblet cells, glandular cells had a more regular and circular shape, stromal cell increased in size, interstitial gaps between stromal cells expanded, and the myometrium layer was thicker. Kelulut honey treatment also effectively normalized the suppressive effect of PS-MPs on the expression and distribution of sex steroid receptors (ERand ER), as well as the level of serum gonadotropin (LH and FSH) and sex steroid (estradiol and progesterone) hormones.CONCLUSION: Kelulut honey can protect the female reproductive system against the disruptive effects of PS-MPs. The phytochemical properties of Kelulut honey might be responsible for these beneficial benefits. However, future studies are warranted to identify the mechanisms involved.
06:42
Combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and carbamazepine induced transgenerational effects on the reproduction of Daphnia magna. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May ;30(25):67596-67607. Epub 2023 Apr 28. PMID: 37115439 Abstract Title: Combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and carbamazepine induced transgenerational effects on the reproduction of Daphnia magna. Abstract: Polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) and carbamazepine (CBZ) are frequently detected in freshwater ecosystems. However, the transgenerational effects of PS MPs and CBZ on the reproduction of aquatic organisms and the corresponding mechanisms are still unclear. In the present study, Daphnia magna was used to evaluate the reproductive toxicity in two consecutive generations (F0, F1). The molting and reproduction parameters, the expression of reproduction, and the toxic metabolism genes were examined after 21-day exposure. A significantly enhanced toxicity was observed in the presence of 5 m PS MPs and CBZ. Chronic exposure results showed that the 5 m PS MPs alone, CBZ alone, and their mixtures exerted significant reproductive toxicity of D. magna. The results of RT-qPCR showed transcripts of genes related to reproduction (cyp314, ecr-b, cut, vtg1, vtg2, dmrt93b) and toxic metabolism (cyp4, gst) were altered in both the F0 and F1. In addition, for the F0, gene transcriptional changes of reproduction were not fully translated into physiological performance, probably due to the compensatory responses caused by the low dose of PS MPs alone, CBZ alone, and their mixtures. Whereas for the F1, the trade-off between reproduction and toxic metabolism at gene levels was observed, which translated into a significant reduction in the total neonate number of F1. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to MPs and CBZ can cause serious reproduction damage to aquatic animals, which needs to be given sufficient attention.
05:40
The ovarian-related effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human ovarian granulosa cells. "IndyWatch Feed Health"
PMID: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Jun 1 ;257:114941. Epub 2023 Apr 21. PMID: 37087970 Abstract Title: The ovarian-related effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human ovarian granulosa cells and female mice. Abstract: Nanoplastics (NPs) have recently emerged in the context of global plastic pollution. They may be more toxic than macroplastics litter and microplastic fragments due to its abundances, tiny sizes, and cellular accessibility. The female reproductive toxicity of NPs has been widely documented for aquatic animals, but their effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood in mammals. This study aimed to explore the effects of NPs on female reproduction using human ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) and female mice. The accumulation of polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) in human granulosa-like tumor cells (KGN cells) and the ovaries of female Balb/c mice were evaluated by exposure to fluorescent PS-NPs. Proliferation and apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Hippo signaling pathway-related factors were analyzed in KGN cells. In addition, fertility rate, litter size, ovarian weight and microstructure, follicle development, serum level of anti-Mullerian hormone, and apoptosis in ovaries were examined in female mice. Here, the PS-NPs can penetrate the KGN cells and accumulate in the ovaries. In vitro, 100 g/ml PS-NPs inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, accumulated ROS, activated three key regulators of the Hippo signaling pathway (MST1, LATS1, and YAP1), and downregulated the mRNA levels of CTGF and Cyr61 in KGN cells. Furthermore, salidroside, an antioxidative compound extracted from Rhodiola rosea, alleviated the damage of PS-NPs to KGN and inhibited the activation of the Hippo signal pathway. In vivo, exposure to 1 mg/day PS-NPs resulted in decreased fertility, abnormal ovarian function, and increased ovarian apoptosis in female mice. Overall, our data suggest that PS-NPs cause granulosa cell apoptosis and affect ovarian functions, leading to reduced fertility in female mice, by inducing oxidative stress and dysregulating the Hippo pathway.