Evidence cluster — Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) toxicology (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)

Evidence: Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) toxicology

Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered toxicology, poisoning, intoxication, heavy metals, mycotoxins and (for relevant taxa) envenomation for Chinchilla lanigera. The cluster returns 12 representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.

Studies

• PMID 42199634 (2026, The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global) — Prevalence of adverse reactions and food allergies in Colombia: Cross-sectional national study.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>The prevalence of food allergy (FA) has been widely studied in developed countries but has been less explored in Latin American countries, where the population has unique cultural conditions, which influence different factors associated with the prevalence of FAs.<h4>Objective</h4>We sought to determine the prevalence of food adverse reactions (FARs), IgE sensitization, and FA in the Colombian population.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a national cross-sectional study in 6 Colombian cities (Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, Manizales, Medellín). In a subgroup of patients, we assessed IgE sensitization to 10 foods (milk, egg, soy, wheat, shrimp, peanuts, nuts, fish, chicken, beef). FA was defined as the presence of FAR with demonstration of IgE sensitization. To complete the study, in addition to this subgroup of patients, we used data of FA sensitization by skin prick test from different Colombian Allergy units.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 7327 surveys were conducted; 24% of participants had a history of at least 1 FAR. In 2% of participants, FA been more frequent in children younger than 5 years of age (4.5%), and lower in adults (≥ 15 years) (1.1%). In adults, the main foods causing FA were shrimp. In children younger than 5, the main foods causing FA were milk and eggs; in children between 6 and 14 years, prevalence of FA to wheat, soy, peanuts, fish, milk, and shrimp was similar. Of children ≤ 14 years old with IgE sensitization to shrimp, 50% had never consumed shrimp or other crustaceans.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although the frequency of adverse reactions was high, the prevalence of IgE reactions was relatively low. High IgE sensitization to shrimp appears to be due in part to cross-reactivity and not always to direct IgE sensitization after consumption. These results may be relevant for public health measures such as food labeling in tropical regions.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42199634/

• PMID 42442374 (2026, Lancet (London, England)) — Multidomain lifestyle intervention for the prevention of cognitive decline in at-risk older adults in Latin America (LatAm-FINGERS): a single-blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Latin America faces a high dementia burden, with increased prevalence of factors associated with cognitive decline. Multidomain lifestyle interventions might delay cognitive decline, but populations from Latin America remain under-represented in dementia prevention trials. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a culturally adapted, multidomain, systematic lifestyle intervention and investigate its effects on global cognitive function in at-risk older adults (aged 60-77 years).<h4>Methods</h4>The LatAm-FINGERS Initiative for Cognitive Change (hereafter referred to as LatAm-FINGERS) was a single-blind, multicentre, randomised clinical trial conducted in 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay). Individuals aged 60-77 years with high risk of dementia (cardiovascular risk factors, ageing, and dementia risk score ≥6), and suboptimal cognitive performance were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either a 2-year systematic lifestyle intervention (SLI group) or a flexible lifestyle intervention (FLI group). Randomisation was stratified by the study centre to ensure balance and implemented using permuted blocks of eight. Participants and intervention staff were not masked to group assignment, but individuals who assessed outcomes were masked throughout the trial. The SLI provided structured multidomain lifestyle interventions with supervised support and monitoring; FLI offered health advice. Primary outcomes were trial feasibility (evaluated using selected RE-AIM measures: Reach, Implementation, and Maintenance) and the intervention's effects on global cognitive composite trajectories over 2 years (change in the global cognitive composite score over 2 years). This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06492967) and has been completed.<h4>Findings</h4>Participants were enrolled between Oct 27, 2021, and July 7, 2023; the last participant completed follow-up on Nov 7, 2025. Among 1719 assessed, 1065 participants included in the analytic sample were randomly assigned to the SLI group (n=539) or the FLI group (n=526). Mean age was 67·5 years (SD 4·7), 795 (75%) of 1065 participants were women, and 270 (25%) were men. Self-reported race and ethnicity were: 624 (59%) Mestizo, 288 (27%) White, 72 (7%) Mulatto, 25 (2%) Mixed or other, 18 (2%) Black, 14 (1%) Indigenous, and 24 (2%) did not report race or ethnicity. 877 (82·3%) of 1065 completed the 2-year follow-up. Recruitment effectiveness (Reach) was 62·0%; mean adherence to the SLI group (Implementation) was 71·6% over the entire trial; and frequencies of complete cognitive outcomes data (Maintenance) were 87·9% at 6 months, 85·3% at 12 months, 81·4% at 18 months, and 84·8% at 24 months in the SLI group compared with 86·3% at 6 months, 78·9% at 12 months, 73·4% at 18 months, and 79·8% at 24 months in the FLI group. Dropouts were higher in the FLI group than in the SLI group (20·2% vs 15·2%; p=0·042). Global cognitive composite scores increased over time in both groups, with a mean annual change of 0·31 SD (95% CI 0·28-0·34) per year in the SLI group and 0·20 SD (0·17-0·23) per year in the FLI group (mean between-group difference of 0·11 SD per year [0·06-0·15; p<0·0001]). Overall, 478 adverse events were reported (412 in the SLI group and 66 in the FLI group). The most common adverse events were musculoskeletal symptoms (113 [21%] in the SLI group, 13 [2%] in the FLI group), upper respiratory infections (50 [9%] in the SLI group, one [<1%] in the FLI group), and COVID-19 infection (31 [6%] events in the SLI group). Serious adverse events occurred in 50 (9%) participants in the SLI group and 24 (5%) participants in the FLI group; none were related to the intervention. There were eight deaths (three in the SLI group and five in the FLI group), and none were related to the intervention.<h4>Interpretation</h4>A culturally adapted multidomain lifestyle intervention was feasible across Latin America and resulted in greater cognitive improvements than a flexible health-advice intervention in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. These findings extend the evidence base for multidomain lifestyle interventions to populations historically under-represented in dementia research, supporting their feasibility and scalability as strategies to reduce cognitive decline risk amid the rapidly growing burden of dementia in low-income and middle-income countries.<h4>Funding</h4>Alzheimer's Association.<h4>Translations</h4>For the Spanish and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42442374/

• PMID 42292913 (2026, Molecular therapy. Advances) — Preclinical evaluation of AAV2 anti-VEGF gene therapy using scFv for choroidal neovascularization.. Abstract (opening): Single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) have been proposed as efficient therapeutic cargoes for gene therapy. However, their safety and efficacy in clinical settings remain to be fully established. In this study, we constructed a recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) vector encoding an anti-VEGF scFv to inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and evaluated its efficacy, biodistribution, and safety in non-human primates (NHPs) and chinchilla rabbits. Pharmacological studies demonstrated sustained inhibition of neovascularization and vascular leakage both <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution analyses further showed that a single subretinal injection of AAV2-antiVEGFscFv resulted in prolonged retention of the transgene product in the retina and choroid, with minimal distribution to non-target tissues. These results indicate that AAV2-antiVEGFscFv may provide a safe and durable therapeutic approach for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Collectively, our results support the potential of scFvs as efficient and well-tolerated therapeutic payloads for <i>in vivo</i> gene therapy, with the capacity to overcome key limitations of conventional antibody-based therapies.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42292913/

• PMID 41495641 (2026, BMC genomics) — Comparative evolutionary and structural bioinformatic analysis of the human N-Acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) gene with different mammalian and avian taxa.. Abstract (opening): Effective metabolization of exogenous compounds in humans is a key for health and drug efficacy albeit a complex process determined by one's genetic background. The enzyme, N-Acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2), which metabolizes different xenobiotic compounds (including folate) and various therapeutic drugs, is encoded by the NAT2 gene. Based on acetylation capacity, an individual is either a fast or slow acetylator. Although the apportionment of NAT2 gene and its acetylator types are widely documented in human populations, the evolutionary genetic affinities and functional background of NAT2 variations with closely-related taxa are not well understood. Herein, we have analyzed 60 NAT2 gene coding sequences (873 bp) representing 59 different taxa belonging to mammalian and avian taxa and two most prevalent human NAT2 alleles ((NAT2*4 and NAT2*6A) to document the phylogenetics relationship among taxa; to characterize DNA methylation patterns in this gene and to evaluate species specific binding efficiency to folate using molecular docking approach. Phylogenetic analysis showed 3 broad clades representing where humans and other primates were found to be closely related. The CpG analysis revealed a one conserved region of same length (total 200 bp) across taxa as well as variable short regions of differing lengths (ranging from minimum 50 to maximum 100 bp length sequences) in some taxa. Molecular docking showed variable binding affinities of NAT2 protein models with human slow acetylator allele (NAT2*6A) showing highest binding affinity to folate, indicative of adaptive response to folate bioavailability. Through our analysis we highlight the evolutionary conservation and functional divergence in NAT2 gene across Mammals and Aves likely to be driven by ecological and dietary factors. Our findings provide new insights into evolutionary adaptations to processing folate across various taxa, which may be significant in studies focusing on evolutionary genetics of drug metabolism.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41495641/

• PMID 42245236 (2026, Geromedicine) — Mutagen-induced somatic mutation rate in primary mammalian cells in relation to maximum life span.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Aims</h4>Testing the hypothesis that excess mutations induced in primary fibroblasts by a low dose of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) are inversely correlated with species-specific maximum life span.<h4>Methods</h4>To measure excess mutations induced by ENU we treated primary cells of 10 mammalian species, greatly differing in life span. We treated all cells with a low dose, non-toxic dose of ENU (20 ug/ml). We then extracted DNA from all treated and untreated cells and quantified somatic mutation burden by single-molecule sequencing. We measured excessive mutations by calculating the ΔSNVs and we analyzed this across species with linear regression.<h4>Results</h4>The average values for ΔSNV were found to range from 0.773 in mice to 0.367 in whale, resulting in a modest inverse correlation with species-specific maximum life span (<i>R</i> ² = 0.2067, <i>P</i> < 0.001).<h4>Conclusion</h4>We conclude that DNA repair accuracy, the main determinant of genome sequence integrity, modestly correlates with life span suggesting that longer lived species have better repair capacities compared to shorter-lived species, which is in keeping with genome instability being a primary hallmark of aging and highlights its important role for longevity.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42245236/

• PMID 42073165 (2026, Foods (Basel, Switzerland)) — Advances in Nanotechnological Strategies for Preserving and Authenticating Bioactive Compounds in Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Nano-Enabled Stabilization, Sensing, and Circular Valorization.. Abstract (opening): Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a chemically complex lipid matrix whose minor constituents-especially phenolic secoiridoids-drive sensory quality, oxidative stability, and health benefits. However, these bioactives are vulnerable to heat, light, oxygen, and pro-oxidant metals during processing and distribution, while the high cost of EVOO often makes it a target for adulteration and mislabeling. This review critically assesses nano-enabled, food-grade strategies that (i) preserve phenolics and aroma compounds through nanoencapsulation, inclusion complexes, Pickering stabilization, and structured lipid systems; (ii) control their release and bioaccessibility during digestion; and (iii) enhance authenticity verification via sensor-ready packaging, spectroscopy/chemometrics, and digital traceability systems (IoT, machine learning, blockchain). We align these innovations with the "product identity constraints" of the EVOO category and with official quality standards used in routine control (IOC/EU). Finally, we explore circular valorization of olive-mill by-products within food-centered biorefineries, outlining pathways to convert biomass into ingredients, materials, and energy, thus reducing environmental impacts. Research priorities are proposed to develop scalable, regulation-compliant nanotechnologies that extend shelf life and increase consumer trust without compromising EVOO category standards.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42073165/

• PMID 41770921 (2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) — Extended local anesthesia enabled by flavonoid permeation enhancers.. Abstract (opening): Site 1 sodium channel blockers (S1SCBs), such as tetrodotoxin (TTX) and neosaxitoxin, are ultrapotent local anesthetics with low tissue toxicity. Their duration of action is relatively brief, but increasing the dose can lead to systemic toxicity. Here, we report that selected flavonoids-puerarin (PUE), naringenin, and kaempferol-prolong nerve block from S1SCBs 4- to 25-fold. Using both tympanic membrane (TM) permeation and sciatic nerve fluorescence distribution models, we demonstrate the flavonoids increase drug penetration across biological barriers (the TM and the barriers in and around nerve), suggesting that they act as chemical permeation enhancers (CPEs). Importantly, flavonoids exhibited minimal tissue toxicity compared to conventional CPEs. Coencapsulation of TTX and PUE into a liposomal delivery system further prolonged local anesthesia to over 25 d from a single injection. These findings establish flavonoid compounds as a safe class of CPEs and provide a platform of long-acting, nonopioid pain therapies. Flavonoids may be attractive alternatives to conventional CPEs in biomedical applications.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41770921/

• PMID 42036824 (2026, Epidemiology and infection) — From the field: a case of zoonotic transmission of &lt;i&gt;Giardia duodenalis&lt;/i&gt; from wild reindeer?. Abstract (opening): A fieldworker got more involved in research than intended when he contracted a <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> infection shortly after collecting faecal samples from wild Norwegian reindeer. Almost 50% of the reindeer samples showed heavy infections with <i>G. duodenalis</i> assemblage AI. Molecular comparison with the fieldworker's infection revealed identical sequences at the loci successfully amplified. Although causality is inherently difficult to establish in wildlife-associated infections, the worker's long history without previous infection, his intense exposure during sampling, absence of alternative known risk factors, and onset of symptoms consistent with exposure indicate that the reindeer samples were the most plausible source. These findings suggest a rare case of well-supported wildlife-associated <i>Giardia</i> transmission.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42036824/

• PMID 41871996 (2026, Women's health (London, England)) — Development of a 3D-printed bra with an incorporated prosthesis for post-mastectomy women.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Women who have undergone mastectomy and do not undergo reconstruction often face challenges with existing bras and prostheses. Mismatches between generic prostheses and individual mastectomy cases result in physical and mental discomfort, such as pain, sweating, asymmetry, and concerns about prosthesis movement. Existing solutions are limited in their ability to address these challenges effectively.<h4>Objectives</h4>This study aims to develop a workflow for designing and fabricating a lightweight post-mastectomy bra with an incorporated prosthesis to improve fit, symmetry, and comfort.<h4>Design</h4>We developed a customization and fabrication workflow based on a three-dimensional (3D) scan and the manipulation of its geometry to achieve fit and symmetry. We leverage the 3D-printed spacer fabric technique to produce a lightweight, breathable structure.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted mechanical tests to determine printing parameters and evaluate the compression properties of the prosthesis and the bra materials. Additionally, we conducted a wear test for 10 women who underwent a mastectomy. A personalized bra was printed for each, and their feedback on fit and comfort was collected weekly over a 3-week test period.<h4>Results</h4>The printed bras were lightweight (150-250 g), breathable, and provided improved symmetry. The mechanical tests confirmed comparable softness to silicone prostheses at significantly lower weight. The user study results show that the custom bras offer several advantages, including reduced weight and improved symmetry, though some participants noted mild fit and texture issues.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Integrating the prosthesis into a 3D-printed bra offers a promising personalized solution for post-mastectomy women. This approach enhances comfort, symmetry, and emotional well-being, however, further improvements need to be made to improve the material and tactility.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41871996/

• PMID 41917256 (2026, Journal of ophthalmic inflammation and infection) — Clinical characteristics and mixed infection patterns of ocular surface infection with Epstein-Barr virus.. Abstract (opening): PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical features of ocular surface diseases caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted. Data from 48 patients (54 eyes) with EBV infection who visited Peking University Third Hospital between January 2023 and October 2025 were collected. Patient demographics and baseline information were recorded. Ophthalmic slit-lamp examination, ocular surface (conjunctiva/cornea) scrapings, bacterial culture of ocular secretions, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection, EBV-specific antibody testing, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) were performed. RESULTS: Among patients infected with EBV on the ocular surface, the majority were middle-aged individuals in the 31–40 age group. The primary risk factors for onset were keeping pets (10/48), followed by colds (6/48); among those keeping pets, parrots were the most common (5/9). The main clinical manifestations were foreign body sensation (37/54) and yellow discharge (34/54). Common signs included mixed conjunctival hyperemia (31/54), follicles on the lower eyelid conjunctiva (17/54), papillae on the upper eyelid conjunctiva (8/54), and punctate epithelial defects on the cornea (17/54). In most ocular surface scrapings, small round lymphocytes were observed alongside a small number of reactive lymphocytes (44/54), which could simultaneously present with a large number of neutrophils (36/54). There was a significant difference between the presence of yellow discharge and the type of conjunctival hyperemia [Formula: see text]. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of yellow discharge and the presence of neutrophils in the scraping results [Formula: see text]. Significant differences were found in EBV viral loads among different groups of combined symptoms [Formula: see text] and among different follicle groups [Formula: see text]. No statistically significant correlation was found between the lymphocyte count in the scraping and the EBV viral load in the affected eye [Formula: see text]. CONCLUSION: EBV infection of the ocular surface is prone to concurrent infections; therefore, a detailed medical history inquiry is crucial. Ocular surface tissue scraping examination can rapidly identify viral infection-related inflammatory characteristics and rule out bacterial/fungal infections, providing effective supportive auxiliary diagnostic evidence for viral ocular surface infection, and precise diagnosis of EBV infection needs to be achieved in combination with molecular biological and serological tests.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41917256/

• PMID 42334066 (2026, BioMed research international) — Novel Vitreous Substitutes in Animal and Human Models: A Systematic Review.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Introduction</h4>Vitreous substitutes are crucial adjuncts during vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment, macular holes, and vitreous hemorrhage. However, current vitreous substitutes pose limitations, including but not limited to their postoperative decrease in visual sharpness, nonfavorable refractive indices, and complications such as glaucoma, cataract, and retinal toxicity.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the biological, physical, and clinical properties of novel experimental vitreous substitutes in animal and human models. We performed a systematic search on Ovid Medline, Embase, and Scopus from January 1, 1990, to October 10, 2025. Studies were included if they reported on any of the following three aspects: optical properties, biological interactions, or clinical outcomes.<h4>Results</h4>Out of 11,045 search results, 37 studies investigating novel hydrogels (n = 15), polymers (n = 5), liquids (n = 5), and devices (n = 12) were included. Among these, 16/37 substitutes had > 80% success in tamponade of retinal detachments, 12/37 showed high tissue biocompatibility, 15/37 demonstrated low ocular inflammation, 13/37 exhibited optical properties similar to native vitreous, and 14/37 were associated with no significant changes in intraocular pressure.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Novel experimental vitreous substitutes, such as UV-CHA, Vitargus ABV-1701, PanaceaGel SPG-178, E10KDC18, or FCVB, show the most promising biological, optical, and physical properties for additional investigation as vitreous substitutes.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42334066/

• PMID 42132839 (2026, Chemical Society reviews) — How far can you go? Extrapolating values of catalytic activity from known protein landscapes in natural and directed evolution.. Abstract (opening): The number of possible variants representing the landscape of a protein sequence of length <i>N</i> residues, made of the standard unmodified proteinogenic amino acids, is 20^<i>N</i>; its exhaustive experimental analysis is consequently intractable. Our focus is on the real and perceived shapes of different fitness landscapes. Epistasis refers to a phenomenon by which the 'best' amino acid at a given residue depends on the nature of the amino acid at one or more other residues. Because of epistasis, real protein landscapes display peaks representing local maxima in which weak mutation/strong-selection regimes can cause evolution to become trapped, leading to landscapes that are rugged. Fortunately, although they are necessarily somewhat rugged, such protein landscapes possess regularities that admit their modelling from more limited experimental data, using the methods of statistics and machine learning. We provide a variety of arguments that for typical proteins of length 300-500 residues some 10⁵ or 10⁶ examples, and in favourable cases even fewer, are likely sufficient to allow a reasonable initial modelling (and accurate predictive exploration) of the entire 20^<i>N</i> landscape for properties such as <i>k</i>_cat. The distribution of fitness effects (DFE) around an existing wild type is usually reasonably fitted statistically by a gamma distribution. However, we also survey modern ideas, especially extreme value theory, that allow extrapolation from the known, with a focus on methods - especially the Generalised Pareto Distribution - that provide means for generating the statistical likelihood of obtaining activities or fitnesses far greater than those observed in existing populations as measured with what are small numbers. These likelihoods typically decrease exponentially, as do the decreases in errors as a function of the size of the network and of the training data as found by deep neural network models as 'universal approximators'. This is entirely consistent with the large differences between the minuscule amount of available sequence-activity data, that are necessarily local in character, reflecting evolutionary contingency, and the overall distribution (20^<i>N</i>, where <i>N</i> might usefully be decreased) that would be expected to contain examples that have much better properties than any observed thus far. This consequently requires careful choices of examples drawn from an extensive distribution (using active learning) for predictive modelling. For instance, a widespread view of a trade-off between catalytic activity and thermostability seems to follow directly from inadequate sampling. All of this has significant implications for the understanding, modelling, and optimisation of experiments in directed evolution and the biocatalysts they produce.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42132839/

Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_chinchilla_toxicology_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).