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Lead is a toxic metal, and is still present in our environment - in water, soil, and imported products manufactured with lead. Lead intoxication is the foremost environmental health threat to children in the world. Children are far more susceptible to lead neurotoxicity than adults because they absorb a higher fraction of lead and have a developing system of cell differentiation and growth that is more vulnerable to inhibition and damage. However, it has also been indicated that low-level exposures of lead result in cognitive dysfunction, neurobehavioral disorders, neurological damage, hypertension, and renal impairment. A common factor in the mechanism of all lead toxicities is oxidative damage. It increases production of free radicals and decreases availability of antioxidant reserves to respond to the resultant damage. The pathogenesis of lead toxicity is multifactorial, as interrupting enzyme activation, inhibiting trace mineral absorption, binding to sulfhydryl proteins, altering calcium homeostasis, and lowering the level of available sulfhydryl antioxidant reserves in the body. Calcium disodium EDTA and DMSA have been used as chelative agents for lead abatement in both adults and children. While chelation is the conventional recommendation for acute lead toxicity, chronic exposure is still under investigation. In addition to appropriate treatment for toxic metal exposure and accumulation, it is also important to minimize the effects of the metal. In this article, the role of antioxidants in the treatment of lead-related pathologies will be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To prolong the lifetime and improve the life quality is very important apart from curing the cancer which is among the first three leading cause of death in a variety of region in the world. Cancer could be summarized as the irregular and immortal life cycle of the cells through the imbalance of genes which controls the normal life cycle. By this way they harm the homeostasis. Many scientists have been continuously working on a variety of plans to cure the cancer. Melatonin is currently under investigation as an alternative among these plans. Main findings: The efficacies of pineal gland, the biological significance of that is known for thousand of years and its secretory product melatonin have systematically studied at the beginning of 20th century for the first time. Since then, enormous studies have been conducted in terms of its direct anti-cancer efficacy as well as a chronobiological regulator, antioxidant and immune modulator. Apart from the efficacy of melatonin on variety of cancers, when used along with classical cancer treatment protocols, researches have shown that melatonin boosts general conditions, clinical outcome and life span. Conclusion: These data support the idea that melatonin, which is inexpensive, easy to produce and almost free from serious side effects, might be considered as an adjuvant therapeutic in the treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]