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Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition in which the pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin due to an autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Pathophysiological complications related to diabetes include micro and macrovascular disease, nephropathy, and neuropathy that can also be affected by environmental factors such as lifestyle and diet. The current study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of total copper, the copper-carrying protein, ceruloplasmin and nonceruloplasmin bound copper (nonceruloplasmin-Cu) and other essential and environmental metals and metalloids in subjects with T1D compared with healthy controls. A cohort of 63 subjects with T1D attending Diabetes Clinics at the University of Miami and 65 healthy control subjects was studied. Metals and metalloids were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A main finding of this study was that total copper and ceruloplasmin levels were higher in persons with T1D compared to healthy controls. In comparison to other metals and clinical variables, elevated copper was the strongest factor associated with T1D resulting in a15-fold increased odds of having the disease per standard deviation increase. Our results suggest a metal and metalloid perturbation in T1D with a significant involvement of Copper dysfunction in the disease pathology, possibly linked to inflammatory processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae need a variety of nutrients for optimal growth and health. However, this rarely occurs in nature, and if nutrient proportions vary, biochemical changes can occur in phytoplankton community. This may result in modifications of zooplankton food quality, affecting aquatic food chains. Our aim was to investigate the toxicity of copper (Cu) to Selenastrum gracile , a common freshwater Chlorophyceae, at different physiological status induced by varying phosphorus (P) concentration in culture medium. Phosphorus was investigated at 2.3×10 −4 , 1.1×10 −4 , 2.3×10 −5 , 4.6×10 −6 and 2.3×10 −6 mol L −1 and Cu at six concentrations, ranging from 6.9×10 −9 mol L −1 to 1.0×10 −7 mol L −1 free Cu 2+ ions. To guarantee the cells would be in a physiological status that reflected the external P concentration, they were previously acclimated up to constant growth rate at each P concentration. Phosphorus acclimated cells were then exposed to Cu and toxicity was evaluated through population density, growth rates and chlorophyll a content. Free Cu 2+ ions concentrations were calculated through the chemical equilibrium model MINEQL + . The results showed that higher Cu toxicity was obtained in P-limited than in P-replete cells, and that chlorophyll a /cell was higher in P-limited cells and excess Cu than in P-replete cells. This confirms the importance of microalgae nutritional status to withstand the negative effects of the trace metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism with main hepatic and neurological symptoms. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and inflammatory demyelinating disease. We present two patients with coexisting WD and MS. In both cases the diagnosis of MS preceded diagnosis of WD. Both patients exhibited neurological signs typical of MS (internuclear palsy, optic neuritis). The first one displayed typical signs of WD (hypomimia, sialorrhea, behavioral changes). The second patient had liver injury without any neurological symptoms. In both cases clinical course of MS was very mild (17 and 12 years of observation) which may be caused by immunosuppressive effect of free copper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the response of several life history parameters (body length and age of primipara, duration of embryonic development, maximum body length, reproduction and survival) of the zooplankton Ceriodaphnia silvestrii while exposed to copper contaminated algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. In order to evaluate chronic exposure on the animal's life history, long-term experimental design was used. Cladocerans were fed with a dietary copper concentration ranging from 3 to 68fgCucell−1. Low waterborne copper exposure (around 10−10 molL−1 free Cu2+ ions) was kept in the experiments. The results showed that by exposure of cladocerans during 7 days to contaminated food with 68fgCucell−1, a significant reduction in neonate production, survival and body size were obtained. Inhibition on egg production of zooplankton at 38fgCucell−1 were observed in 36 days chronic dietary copper exposure. The importance of entire life cycle study to better evaluate cladoceran responses to chronic dietary metal exposure was demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]