Winemaking is one of the most relevant socio-economic activities in the world, particularly in countries such as Portugal, generating substantial amounts of by-products across its various phases. Managing these by-products presents significant environmental, ecological, and economic challenges. Vermicomposting, the use of earthworms to process and transform organic wastes into nutrient-rich end-products, provides a viable alternative for waste management within the wine sector. This bioprocess also produces vermicompost that enhances soil health and fosters optimal conditions for plant growth, thereby promoting resilient and sustainable viticulture practices. This review explores the various by-products produced by the vine and wine industry, highlighting the potential of vermicomposting. Remarkably, grape marc, the primary solid waste of the winemaking process, has been the most commonly vermicomposted material. In contrast, other vineyard and wine cellar by-products have been comparatively underutilized and understudied in this context. However, we hypothesize that all vine and wine industry by-products have vermicomposting potential, allowing for the production of fertilizers and soil amendments. This approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy, ensuring that all materials stemming from viticulture and wine production are valued and reused, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainability and the preservation of resources like soil.

This work aimed to define a humane endpoint scoring system able to objectively identify signs of animal suffering in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into control and induced group. The induced animals drink a 10% fructose solution for 14 days. Then, received an administration of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Animals’ body weight, water and food consumption were recorded weekly. To evaluate animal welfare, a score sheet with 14 parameters was employed. Blood glucose levels were measured at three time points. After seven weeks of initiating the protocol, the rats were euthanized. The induced animals showed weight loss, polyuria, polyphagia, and polydipsia. According to our humane endpoints table, changes in animal welfare became noticeable after the STZ administration. None of the animals hit the critical score limit (four). Data showed that the most effective parameters to assess welfare in this type 2 diabetes rat induction model were dehydration, grooming, posture, abdominal visualization, and stool appearance. The glycemia was significantly higher in the induced group when compared to the controls (p < 0.01). Induced animals’ murinometric and nutritional parameters were significantly lower than the controls (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that in this rat model of type 2 diabetes with STZ-induced following fructose consumption, our list of humane endpoints is suitable for monitoring the animals’ welfare.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are ubiquitous in soil, posing serious risks to soil biota, especially earthworms, which have been found to be affected by these compounds, despite not being their typical target organisms. Earthworms are essential for sustaining soil health and quality, by promoting soil aeration, organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, among other functions. This review synthesizes available literature evidencing the negative impact of EDC exposure, through traditional endocrine pathways and other toxicological mechanisms, on histopathological, biochemical, molecular and reproductive endpoints of earthworms. The compounds described, in the consulted literature, to induce histopathological, biochemical, genotoxicity and molecular and reproductive alterations include antibiotics, antimicrobial additives, flame retardants, fragrances, fungicides, herbicides, hormones, inorganic ions, insecticides, organic UV filters, parabens, perfluoroalkyl substances, pesticides, petroleum derivatives, plasticizers and polychlorinated biphenyls. These compounds reach soil through direct application or via contaminated organic amendments and water derived from potentially polluted sources. The findings gather in the present review highlight the vulnerability of earthworms to a broad spectrum of chemicals with endocrine disrupting capacity. Additionally, these studies emphasize the physiological disruptions caused by EDC exposure, underscoring the critical need to protect biodiversity, including earthworms, to ensure soil quality and ecosystem sustainability. Ongoing research has provided insights into molecular mechanisms responsive to EDCs in earthworms, including the identification of putative hormone receptors that exhibit functional similarity to those present in vertebrates. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the impact of EDCs in earthworms, especially through non-hormonal mediated pathways, and addresses the need for strong regulatory frameworks to mitigate the detrimental effects of EDCs on soil invertebrates in order to safeguard soil ecosystems. Graphical abstract

Sambucus nigra L., popularly known as elderberry, is renowned for its amazing therapeutic properties, as well as its uses as a food source, in nutraceuticals, and in traditional medicine. This study’s aim was to investigate the effects of an elderberry extract (EE) on mice for 29 days, as well as the safety of the extract when used as a natural colorant. Twenty-four FVB/n female mice (n = 6) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control, 12 mg/mL EE (EE12), 24 mg/mL EE (EE24), or 48 mg/mL EE (EE48). The predominant anthocyanins detected were cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. Food and drink intake were similar between groups, with the exception of EE48, who drank significantly less compared with the Control. Biochemical analysis of the liver showed that the changes observed in histological analysis had no pathological significance. The EE, at doses of 24 and 48 mg/mL, significantly reduced the oxidative DNA damage compared with the non-supplemented group. The S. nigra extract showed a favorable toxicological profile, affording it potential to be used in the food industry.

Animal models play a crucial role in breast cancer research, in particular mice and rats, who develop mammary tumors that closely resemble their human counterparts. These models allow the study of mechanisms behind breast carcinogenesis, as well as the efficacy and safety of new, and potentially more effective and advantageous therapeutic approaches. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each model is crucial to select the most appropriate one for the research purpose. This review provides a concise overview of the animal models available for breast cancer research, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each one for searching new and more effective approaches to treatments for this type of cancer. Rodent models provide valuable information on the genetic alterations of the disease, the tumor microenvironment, and allow the evaluation of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. However, in vivo models have limitations, and one of them is the fact that they do not fully mimic human diseases. Choosing the most suitable model for the study purpose is crucial for the development of new therapeutic agents that provide better care for breast cancer patients.

Echocardiography is a reliable and non-invasive method for assessing cardiac structure and function in both clinical and experimental settings, offering valuable insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy. The successful application of echocardiography in murine models of disease has enabled the evaluation of disease severity, drug testing, and continuous monitoring of cardiac function in these animals. However, there is insufficient standardization of echocardiographic measurements for smaller animals. This article aims to address this gap by providing a guide and practical tips for the appropriate acquisition and analysis of echocardiographic parameters in adult rats, which may also be applicable in other small rodents used for scientific purposes, like mice. With advancements in technology, such as ultrahigh-frequency ultrasonic transducers, echocardiography has become a highly sophisticated imaging modality, offering high temporal and spatial resolution imaging, thereby allowing for real-time monitoring of cardiac function throughout the lifespan of small animals. Moreover, it allows the assessment of cardiac complications associated with aging, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, as well as the monitoring of cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic interventions in preclinical models, providing important information for translational research. Finally, this paper discusses the future directions of cardiac preclinical ultrasound, highlighting the need for continued standardization to advance research and improve clinical outcomes to facilitate early disease detection and the translation of findings into clinical practice.