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The high consumption of fossil fuels and concomitant contamination of the environment have promoted the search for new, low‐cost, and cleaner energy sources to satisfy the current energy demand around the world, decreasing the levels of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. One of the promising strategies to facilitate the generation of renewable energy involves solar‐driven chemical reactions, by using photocatalysts with improved sunlight absorption and carrier transfer abilities. Lead‐free halide perovskites (LFHPs) are good candidates, showing mesmerizing optical features, modulable band structure, oxidizing/reducing capability, and less toxicity compared to their Pb‐analogous. However, the literature reporting the photo(electro)chemical (PEC) properties of the LFHPs‐based materials for solar energy production is scarce. This review describes the current state‐of‐the‐art exhibiting the influence of the dimensionality, chemical composition and the formation of heterojunctions based on LFHPs on their photo(electro)activity for conducting solar‐driven hydrogen evolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, and the degradation of recalcitrant pollutants to obtain added‐value chemicals. In this way, it is also included the main challenges to be faced. Furthermore, we address some potential LFHPs to be explored in PEC systems, opening up the gamut of possibilities to consolidate the solar‐to‐chemical transformation as an innovative alternative to favor environmentally friendly energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) toxicity has garnered attention from environmental scientists because of its detrimental impact on plants, animals and humans. Lead toxicity ranks among the most perilous metal poisonings, with avenues of entry including lead-based paint, dust, water, soil, tableware, and folk remedies. Children are particularly susceptible to its effects. Lead instigates oxidative stress by impeding glutathione replenishment and can provoke hemolytic anemia through lipid peroxidationinduced disruption of cellular membranes. Furthermore, it perturbs neurotransmitter levels and induces severe health complications, some fatal, due to organ damage. The primary objective of this review is to synthesize information on lead toxicity detection, its sources, and its mechanisms, encompassing its various toxicological impacts on human health. Additionally, it underscores strategies for lead toxicity prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk and its products are considered healthy due to their content of key nutritional elements. Despite their essential role in the human diet, they may be susceptible to contamination with many chemical pollutants from the surrounding environment, most notably heavy metals such as lead, which is considered toxic to consumers. This study evaluated lead concentrations in milk and dairy product samples collected from various Egyptian environments. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in Pb concentrations in the samples collected from different environments in Egypt (industrial, traffic and rural). The average lead content in raw cow's milk, sterilised milk, Domiati cheese, Ras cheese, processed cheese and yoghurt samples from industrial areas were 2.23, 0.33, 3.19, 5.10, 0.11 and 0.09 mg/kg, respectively. In traffic areas, lead concentrations were 1.83, 0.30, 2.72, 4.72, 0.13 and 0.09, and in rural areas, they were 0.61, 0.27, 1.52, 3.13, 0.13 and 0.09. The data showed that Pb levels in dairy product samples collected from industrial areas are very high compared with those collected from traffic areas. By contrast, the lowest Pb concentrations were recorded in samples from rural areas. It is recommended that lead levels in different foods, especially milk and its products, be evaluated at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of studies have proven that occupational lead exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, evidence regarding the potential effects of lead on the cardiac conduction system is sparse and inconclusive. We planned a descriptive study examining the relationship between occupational lead exposure and electrocardiogram (ECG). We investigated 48 patients, 46 males (95.8%) and two females (4.2%), who were hospitalized in Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital Hospital in 2022 due to lead intoxication, measured blood lead and examined ECG in this study. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were performed. The lead level was determined as 50.00±7.07 in women and 37.80±13.28 µg/L in men. No permanent significant relationship was detected between gender and lead level (p>0.05). No significant relationship was found between lead level and heart rhythm (p>0.05). It was determined that there was no significant correlation between the patients' lead levels and ECG results (ventricular rate, PR interval, QRS complex, QT and QTc) (p>0.05). Our study concluded that abnormal ECG results may also occur in occupational lead exposure but they were not related to toxic blood lead levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides frequently increase lead (Pb) content in the soil and food crops. This study aims to isolate Pb-resistant bacteria and test the isolated bacteria in reducing Pb concentration and increasing biomass production of Brassica chinensis on Pb-contaminated soil. Soil and plant samples were collected from agricultural land in Batu City, East Java, Indonesia. The isolated bacteria were tested for Pb resistance and then characterised according to 16S rRNA Sequence. A pot trial with a completely randomised block design consisting of 9 treatments and 3 replications was set to determine the effect of Pb-resistant bacteria inoculation on Pb residue, plant growth, and soil nutrients. The result showed that the isolated Pb-resistant bacteria were Bacillus wiedmannii and Bacillus altitudinis. The bacteria were resistant to Pb up to 10,000 mg/L PbNO3. Inoculation of the bacteria increased B. chinensis growth and biomass production, namely increasing the number of leaves (12%) and dry weight (35%). Also, the bacteria reduced Pb residue in the soil by up to 88%. Moreover, soil essential nutrients such as total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium increased (12%, 73%, and 200%, respectively) after the application of Pb-resistant bacteria. The bacteria have the potential for bioremediation of Pb-contaminated soils on a large scale due to the bacteria prevent Pb uptake by food crops such as B. chinensis by reducing Pb content in the soil, which is good for food safety and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lead (Pb) poisoning affects multiple organs including the reproductive system. The experiment was performed to explore the protective effect of naringin on testicular apoptosis, neuronal dysfunction and markers of stress in cockerel chicks. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six cockerel chicks were used for this study, and randomly grouped into six chicks per group viz. control, Pb only (600 ppm), Pb and naringin (80 mg/kg), Pb and Naringin (160 mg/kg), naringin only (80 mg/kg) and naringin only (160 mg/kg), respectively, for eight weeks. Pb was administered via drinking water while naringin was administered via oral gavage. Oxidative stress indices in the brain and testes were assessed, and immunohistochemistry of TNF-a and caspase 3 was done in the brain and testes, respectively. Results: Lead administration induced inflammatory and testicular apoptosis cascade accompanied with increased oxidative stress and upregulation of brain and testicular antioxidant enzymes in comparison to the control and Pb-only-treated cockerels. Immunohistochemistry showed significant immunoreactivity of testicular caspase 3 and TNF-a in the brain. Conclusion: Treatment of Pb-exposed chickens with naringin offered protection to Pb acetate-induced testicular oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation in cockerel chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lead is a highly toxic metal. Multiple lead exposures produce serious poisoning and sometimes fatality because lead builds up slowly in the exposed body. Signs of repeated exposure to lead are high blood pressure, numbness or tingling of the extremities, memory loss, anemia, and kidney dysfunction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who attended to medical city hospital. The study was conducted from January 2 to May 31, 2022. Inclusion criteria were by involved adults ≥30 years old with CKD of both genders. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured for all patients according to the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Whole blood samples were taken to measure lead levels in the Toxicology Center of Baghdad Medical City. The collection of data was done by interview using a special questionnaire. Verbal consent was taken as an ethical issue by each participant in the study. Results: A total of 315 CKD patients were involved. The mean blood lead level was 24.62 µg/dL, the range was between 15 µg/dL, and 33 µg/dL for both genders, which is higher than the cut point of 10 µg/dL depended in this study. About 38.4%, and 30.8% of patients had GFR (15--29 mL/ min/1.73 m2), and (<15) mL/min/1.73 m2 and they were considered as stage 4 and 5 CKD patients, respectively. Conclusions: Lead level in blood and GFR had a significant association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the relationship between blood lead and Cadmium (Cd) concentrations and metabolic syndromes (MetS), including its components (central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lioioritein, hypertension, and hyperglycemia) among Korean firefighters. A total of 965 firefighters of the Enhancement of Safety and Health cohort were analyzed in this study. MetS was defined according to the 2005 revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity criteria for waist circumference. The collected data were analyzed using a logistic regression model. Of the 965 participants, 190 (19.7%) had MetS. After adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise, shift duty, and main duty position, the Cd level was significantly associated with an increased risk of MetS in the Korean firefighter population (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 2.46). This association was significant among non-smokers and ex-smokers (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.03, 2.43), non-drinkers and ex-drinkers (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.06, 2.94), firefighters aged 40 year or older (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.10, 2.86), and office administrators (OR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.42, 10.39). This outcome suggests that exposure to Cd is likely to increase risk of MetS among firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was carried out to investigate the performance of oxalic acid (OA) through Lemna minor L. (duckweed) in the phytoextraction of lead (Pb) from metal contaminated water. Zero, 100 μM, 250 μM, and 500 μM Pb concentration and combinations with 2.5 ml of OA were provided to the plants in the form of solution after defining intervals. Continuous aeration was provided to the plants and kept a pH level at 6.5. Results from this research depicted that increasing concentration level of Pb inhibited the overall plant growth, biomass, frond area, chlorophyll, and antioxidant enzyme activities like peroxidase (POD), superoxide-dismutase (SOD), catalases (CAT), and ascorbate-peroxidase (APX). Moreover, Pb stress enhances the concentration, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage substances in plants. Furthermore, the addition of OA alleviated the Pb-induced toxicity in the plants, increasing the Pb accumulation and its endorsement in the L. minor. The OA addition increased the Pb accumulation in plants at 0, 100, 250 and 500 μM. At higher concentration, Pb showed harmful effect as related to the other low doses. Under the application of OA, Pb higher accumulation and concentration in L. minor were measured, which showed that it could be the most suitable plant for the phytoextraction of lead-contaminated soil and wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) treatment has been shown to reduce the toxicity and accumulation of lead (Pb) in many plants, including rice. The mechanisms responsible for this effect are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of Si treatment on Pb toxicity and accumulation in two rice mutants (lsi1 and lsi2) defective in Si uptake and in their wild types. Si did not alleviate Pb-induced inhibition of root elongation in shortterm experiments, but reduced Pb accumulation in wild types, but not in mutants, in long-term experiments. Pre-treatment with Si reduced Pb concentration in xylem sap and Pb accumulation in wild types but not in mutants. In split-root experiments, Si treatment reduced Pb accumulation but did not alter Pb localization in roots. Si treatment suppressed the expression of many genes encoding proteins that may participate in Pb uptake and transport in the wild type, but not in the lsi1 mutant. These results indicate that Si accumulation in shoots is required to reduce Pb uptake in rice and that the effect is achieved via Siinduced suppression of genes encoding proteins involved in Pb uptake and/or transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead reproductive toxicity has been reported in men. Nigella sativa seed and its active component, thymoquinone have been used in traditional pharmacopeia as natural remedy to promote reproductive health. This study investigated the ameliorative potential of Thymoquinone (TQ) on male reproductive functions in lead acetate (PbA)-induced reproductive toxicity in Wistar rats. Thirty male Wistar rats weighing 100-120 g were randomly divided into six groups (n=5); Control (distilled water, 0.2 ml/day), PbA, PbA+5 mg/kg TQ, PbA+3.75 mg/kg TQ, PbA+2.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg TQ. TQ was given orally at varying doses daily for 8 weeks while PbA (15 mg/Kg) was administered intraperitoneally once per week for 8 weeks. Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular hormones, sperm analysis, and histological studies of the testis and epididymis were conducted and data were analyzed. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in GnRH, FSH, LH, and testosterone in PbA, PbA+3.75 mg/kg TQ, and PbA+2.5 mg/kg TQ when compared with the control group. However, GnRH, FSH, LH, and testosterone significantly increased (p<0.05) in PbA+5 mg/kg TQ and PbA+3.75 mg/kg TQ when compared with PbA treated group. Sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology showed significant decrease in PbA treated group when compared with the control, while these were significantly ameliorated following TQ administration. Cytoarchitectural distortions observed in the testis and epididymis in PbA-treated groups were equally improved with TQ administration. Lead acetate induces reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats via a reduction in hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular hormones, sperm parameters as well as distortion of both testicular and epididymal cytoarchitectures. However, Thymoquinone ameliorated these anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In nature, certain animals share a common living environment with humans, thus these animals have become biomonitors of health effects related to various environmental exposures. As one of the most toxic environmental chemicals, lead (Pb) can cause detriment health effects to animals, plants, and even humans through different exposure pathways such as atmosphere, soil, food, water, and dust, etc. Sentinel animals played an "indicative" role in the researches of environmental pollution monitoring and human health. In order to comprehend the usage of sentinel animals in the indication of environmental Pb pollution and human Pb exposure completely, a combination of traditional review and visualization analysis based on CiteSpace literature was used to review earlier researches in this study. In the first instance, present researches on exposure sources and exposure pathways of Pb were summarized briefly, and then the studies using sentinel animals to monitor environmental heavy metal pollution and human health were combed. Finally, visualization software CiteSpace 5.8.R3 was used to explore and analyze the hotspots and frontiers of lead exposure and sentinel animals researches at home and abroad. The results showed that certain mammals were good indicators for human lead exposure. Sentinel animals had been widely used to monitor the ecological environment and human lead exposure. Among them, the blood lead levels of small mammals, particularly for domestic dogs and cats, had a significant correlation with the blood lead levels of human living in the same environment. It indicated that certain biological indicators in animals can be used as surrogates to monitor human body exposure to heavy metals. This study also explored the challenges and perspectives that may be faced in sentinel animal research, in order to provide a certain theoretical basis and train of thought guidance for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to use a variety of leaching methods to see how different parameters affected the amount of lead leaching from tailings. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, leachate extraction procedure, and field leach test protocols were utilized to assess the toxicity of the tailings. The impact of the liquid-solid ratio, particle size, contact time, and pH on lead release from tailings was also investigated. According to the findings, pH entirely effects on the release of lead from the tailings, and amphoteric leaching behavior was observed. The tailings were classified as hazardous material as a result of the TCLP leaching protocol's findings. S1 and S2 samples had lead mobility indexes of 51% and 5.6%, respectively. The solubility process influenced the discharge of lead from the tailings. In the particle size ranges of 0.3-0.5 mm and 0.6-1.0 mm, respectively, the maximum amount of lead was released from S1 and S2 samples. Various experiments have shown that the interaction between different factors will have complex and strong effects on the leaching process. To that end, managing of tailings and preventing lead emission into the environment necessitates a unique technique. Leachability is affected by a number of factors and often multiple factors can produce synergistically different releases than would be predicted by each factor alone. However, validation of the leaching approaches to field-collected and monitored cases indicates that combined effects are either captured by the test data or can be considered through fate and transport modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lead is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. Most of the time, lead poisoning builds up slowly. It follows repeated exposures to small quantities of lead. Signs of repeated lead include high blood pressure, numbness or tingling in the extremities, memory loss, anemia, and kidney dysfunction. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to measure the blood lead level (BLL) among sample of adult patients attending Baghdad Teaching Hospital aged =30 years old and to find if there is any association between BLL and renal impairment. Subjects and Methods: Across sectional study was conducted from January 2 to May 31, 2022. Sample involved selection of adults of both sexes who attend Baghdad Teaching Hospital outpatient clinic for nonrenal medical problems. Inclusion criteria include adults aged =30 years old, with no history of drugs that change creatinine level and not malnourished. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured for all participants according to the Cockcroft equation depending on serum creatinine, age, gender, weight, height, and body mass index. Blood sample was taken for measure lead level in toxicology center in Baghdad medical city using whole blood samples not <2.5 ml for each participant, and the collection of data was taken by interview using especial questionnaire. Verbal consent was taken as ethical issue from each participant in the study. Results: A total of 239 participants were involved in this study. The mean BLL was 23.57 µg/dl. BLL for all was ranged between the values 17 µg/dl and 33 µg/dl for both sexes. The study showed a significant association between BLL and GFR rate. Conclusions: BLL was higher than normal cut point used in the study which is 10 µg/dl. About one-third of participants had risk of kidney disease with GFR (60-90) ml/min/1.73 m2; they were considered asymptomatic renal impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal lead (Pb) is a primary pollutant that pollutes aquatic environments and can be enriched in aquatic animals. Here, the effects of waterborne Pb on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) within 96 h of exposure were detected, and the association between microbiota alterations in the intestines and water was analysed. Results revealed that the intestinal barrier was damaged, including the intestinal morphology change, the structure‐related genes (villin‐1 and Claudin‐7) expression down‐regulation, the antioxidant (GST and GSH‐Px) and immune‐related genes (TNF‐α and IL‐8) expression up‐regulation. The MiSeq sequencing data revealed a decrease in diversity and an increase in microbiota richness in the intestines and water after Pb exposure. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) results revealed an increase in the dominant bacteria (P_proteobacteria and C_Gammaproteobacteria) in the water, which enriched bacteria in the intestines. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) found that there were correlations between intestinal microbiota and water microbiota, intestinal structure morphology and immune factors. Based on these results, we speculated that the effects of Pb on the grass carp intestinal barrier may be related to changes in the intestinal structure of grass carp and the water microbial community. These findings improve our understanding of the effects of heavy metals on the fish–microbe relationships after polluting aquatic habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb2+) ions, among heavy toxic metals, are extensively distributed and bioaccumulate in food chains, prompting researchers to monitor their levels in water and biosystems. Consequently, aiming to protect the environment and human health, this study synthesizes a straightforward naphthalene-naphthalene dyad-based "turn-on" fluorescent chemosensor (S) tailored for detecting Pb2+ ions. This selective response to Pb2+ ions over other competing metal ions is characterized by hypsochromic changes in fluorescence enhancement resulting from an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process from -OH group (donor) to the naphthyl ring (acceptor) following the complexation of S-Pb2+. Moreover, cross-contamination titration for probe S was conducted in the presence of various distinct competitive metal ions. By employing Job's plot and B-H plot, the complicated stoichiometry (1:2) and association constant (K a = 9.45×104 M−1) of S-Pb2+ were studied. The probe's interaction with Pb2+ is studied using spectroscopic measurements and DFT calculations. The probe demonstrated exceptional selectivity and sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) value of 12.50×10−6 M for Pb2+ in a buffered THF:H 2 O (50:50, v:v) medium. The applicability of chemosensor S spans across various water, food, and E. coli samples, indicating its potential in monitoring and managing Pb2+ toxicity in wastewater and biosystems. [Display omitted] • The study reports sensor S, detecting toxic Pb2+ ions rapidly and applicable in food, water, and living cells. • The sensor demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity via ICT mechanistic process. • The detection limit (LOD) of 12.50 µM for Pb2+ is lower than many previous reports. • The sensor's versatility is showcased by its applicability in both biological and environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spread of infectious diseases in populations is controlled by the susceptibility (propensity to acquire infection), infectivity (propensity to transmit infection), and recoverability (propensity to recover/die) of individuals. Estimating genetic risk factors for these three underlying host epidemiological traits can help reduce disease spread through genetic control strategies. Previous studies have identified important 'disease resistance single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)', but how these affect the underlying traits is an unresolved question. Recent advances in computational statistics make it now possible to estimate the effects of SNPs on host traits from epidemic data (e.g. infection and/or recovery times of individuals or diagnostic test results). However, little is known about how to effectively design disease transmission experiments or field studies to maximise the precision with which these effects can be estimated. Results: In this paper, we develop and validate analytical expressions for the precision of the estimates of SNP effects on the three above host traits for a disease transmission experiment with one or more non-interacting contact groups. Maximising these expressions leads to three distinct 'experimental' designs, each specifying a different set of ideal SNP genotype compositions across groups: (a) appropriate for a single contact-group, (b) a multi-group design termed "pure", and (c) a multi-group design termed "mixed", where 'pure' and 'mixed' refer to groupings that consist of individuals with uniformly the same or different SNP genotypes, respectively. Precision estimates for susceptibility and recoverability were found to be less sensitive to the experimental design than estimates for infectivity. Whereas the analytical expressions suggest that the multi-group pure and mixed designs estimate SNP effects with similar precision, the mixed design is preferred because it uses information from naturally-occurring rather than artificial infections. The same design principles apply to estimates of the epidemiological impact of other categorical fixed effects, such as breed, line, family, sex, or vaccination status. Estimation of SNP effect precisions from a given experimental setup is implemented in an online software tool SIRE-PC. Conclusions: Methodology was developed to aid the design of disease transmission experiments for estimating the effect of individual SNPs and other categorical variables that underlie host susceptibility, infectivity and recoverability. Designs that maximize the precision of estimates were derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary is an investigation of sources of lead (Pb) exposure in West Africa. Pb is generally acknowledged as one of the most widespread environmental health hazards in West Africa, and there is heightened concern over adverse health effects at various levels of exposure (at doses once considered safe) in the West African region. A literature review for the possible health implications of Pb exposure on human health showed nervous system dysfunction, anemia, and potential cognitive diseases as the major health issues among children, while adults were found to suffer more from cardiovascular dysfunction, neurological decline, and reproductive diseases. Despite a decline in blood lead levels (BLLs), lead exposure continues to be a major public health concern as no level of Pb exposure can be considered safe. Moreover, lowering BLLs entails identifying various lead sources such as gasoline emissions, leaded paint, canned foods, and beverages, as well as plausible biological pathways of lead exposure and response. However, only countries such as Nigeria and Ghana have extensive research available regarding the different sources of Pb exposure. Further, it is not apparent which country is affected the most by Pb exposure. Therefore, this commentary was aimed to explore different literature sources to describe and list the different sources of Pb exposure in 15 West African countries. The findings indicated water, food, and occupational exposure as the major sources of Pb exposure in the region. People with occupations such as e-waste and Pb acid battery recycling, auto mechanics, fuel attending, welding, electronic repairing, farming/spraying, and mining were found to be at immediate risk. Tobacco, spices and paints constituted additional potential sources of exposure. For residents living near landfills or urban area, the major sources of Pb exposure were soil, air, and dust particles. The review revealed a vast research gap on the sources and implications of Pb exposure. Exposure to Pb could further increase due to uncontrolled traffic, urban growth, inadequate urban planning, and the inadequate enforcement of regulations. Therefore, more extensive research on the changing trends of Pb exposure among West African populations is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the possible ameliorative effect of Beta-MOS® on lead-induced toxicity in Nile tilapia. A total of ninety O. niloticus (34.43 ± 0.31 g and 7 weeks age) were used in this study. Fish of mixed sex were divided into 4 groups. The first group which served as control received a basal diet (0% Beta-MOS®). The second group received a diet supplemented with 0.3% Beta-MOS®. The third group was exposed to 10 mg Pb acetate L-1 in water and received a basal diet. The fourth group was exposed to the same dose of Pb acetate (10 mg L-1 ) in water and given 0.3% Beta-MOS®. Initial and final weight as well as weight gain were recorded. Red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration were determined. Creatinine plasma level was estimated as well as histopathological changes in the kidney. The lead acetate induced a significant reduction in final body weight, weight gain, red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration than control. Moreover, creatinine was significantly increased in the lead group than control, with retrogressive changes in histopathological sections. Dietary Beta-MOS® ameliorated all the lead-induced perturbations in the tested parameters. Dietary Beta-MOS® ameliorated lead acetate toxicity in Nile tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is a common metal, which can be toxic to the human body via the pollution of water or food, and can cause anemia and other diseases. However, what happens before hemolysis and anemia caused by Pb poisoning is unclear. Here, we demonstrated Pb can cause procoagulant activity of erythroid cells leading to thrombosis before hemolysis. In freshly isolated human erythroid cells, we observed that Pb resulted in hemolysis in both concentration- and time-dependent manners, but that no lysis occurred in Pb-exposed erythroid cells (≤20 μM for 1 h). Pb treatment did not cause shape changes at up to 0.5 h incubation but at 1 h incubation echinocyte and echino-spherocyte shape changes were observed, indicating that Pb can exaggerate a concentration- and time-dependent trend of shape changes in erythroid cells. After Pb treatment, ROS-independent eryptosis was shown with no increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but with an increase of [Ca2+]i and caspase 3 activity. With a thrombosis mouse model, we observed increased thrombus by Pb treatment (0 or 25 mg/kg). In brief, prior to hemolysis, we demonstrated Pb can cause ROS-independent but [Ca2+]i-dependent eryptosis, which might provoke thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current survey investigated the alleviating effect of dietary clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil (CEO) in comparison with vitamin C (VC), against the adverse effects of Pb on growth performance, serum oxidative indices, and lipid profile in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica), following oral administration. Methods: 480 one-day-old quails were randomly segregated into 8 groups, which fed with the following diets, via 35 days: basal diet (negative control), basal diet + VC (500 mg/kg), basal diet + CEO (450 mg/kg), basal diet + CEO (100 mg/kg), basal diet + VC (500 mg/kg) + Pb (100 mg/l), basal diet + CEO (450 mg/kg) + Pb (100 mg/l), basal diet + CEO (100 mg/kg) + Pb (100 mg/l), and basal diet + Pb (100 mg/l) (positive control). The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and Duncan's post hoc test. Results: Quails exposed to Pb and treated with CEO had reduced oxidative stress as evidenced by lower concentrations of TBARS and CP, higher activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT, and more improved lipid profile, compared to positive control. Moreover, the alleviating effects of CEO were dose-dependent. Conclusion: The CEO (450 mg/kg) was potentially as effective as or even more potent than VC (500 mg/kg) in alleviating the adverse effects of Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals, especially Pb (lead), are generally toxic to living things. Pb can contaminate organisms in the water through the food chain. The purpose of this study is to enhance water quality by using Salvinia molesta to phytoremediate Pb-polluted water. This study aims to evaluate the ability of S. molesta as a Pb phytoremediator. We evaluated total protein, free amino acids produced by the plant, and plant growth (dry biomass). S. molesta was grown in a hydroponic system exposed to Pb at dosages of 0, 5, 10, and 15 ppm for 7 and 14 days. Pb level was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and amino acids were analyzed using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test (α < 0.05). Results showed a significant change in Pb content in the roots and leaves of Pb-exposed S. molesta Mitch compared to control. In Pb-exposed plants, total protein and amino acids, especially cysteine, were lowered. S. molesta could be used as a Pb phytoremediator due to its high potential to survive Pb exposure and its ability to absorb Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to lead (Pb) remains a serious health concern for children in the United States, particularly those residing in deteriorating housing. While some sources of Pb such as deteriorating paint and lead waterworks are relatively well understood and widely known, other sources remain hidden. One potential hidden source is bathtubs. In this experiment, water resting in a leaded bathtub was tested over a course of 60 min to determine the extent of metal leaching from the tub to the water. Lead levels in the water increased from 6.8 μg/L at baseline to 13 μg/L after resting in the tub for 60 min. Further research is needed to understand if this is typical, the contributing factors, and clinical significance of this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several decades after selenium impacts on wild fish populations were observed in freshwater reservoirs receiving fly ash effluents from electric power facilities at Belews Lake and Hyco Reservoir (North Carolina, USA), developments in selenium (Se) toxicology have led to a greater understanding of Se effects on freshwater fish. These latter advancements have allowed regulatory agencies in several jurisdictions to develop tissue‐based toxicity benchmarks for the protection of aquatic life. These benchmarks were generally derived from datasets encompassing multiple fish species and designed to protect the most sensitive species (US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] water quality criteria). Safety factors have been applied in the development of some Canadian guidelines (British Columbia [BC]), resulting in guidelines that appear to be overly conservative. The present study addresses the question, "Are current tissue‐based selenium guidelines and criteria overly protective of freshwater fish populations?" A literature review was conducted of studies in which Se was the primary constituent of concern, to compare tissue concentrations and results of fish population metrics and deformity assessment studies with current regulatory thresholds for the protection of aquatic life in the United States and Canada. EPA fish tissue‐based Se criteria were found to be protective of fish populations and, at times, overly protective. Canadian water quality guidelines for Se (BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy [BCMOECCS], Environment and Climate Change Canada [ECCC]) were consistently found to be overly protective, especially for benchmarks in which safety factors were used to derive those guidelines. In addition to a synthesis of the results of these studies, various limitations of the reviewed studies are discussed, and recommendations for future studies are proposed. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:622–630. © 2021 SETAC Key Points: Critical evaluation of tissue‐based selenium guidelines in Canada and USA against field research finds environmental regulations are protective of fish, and overly conservative in some cases.Fish tissue samples several orders of magnitude in exceedance of USEPA, Canadian, and BC guidelines and criteria were found to have no population‐level impacts on freshwater fish.The use of safety factors in establishing environmental benchmarks produces overly conservative benchmark values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus genotypes (HPVs) have been confirmed to be the major cause of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) that remains to be one of the most common women cancers around the world. It seems other risk factors have synergistic effects on cervical cancer occurrence including smoking, dietary pattern, sexual behavior, ethnicity, epigenetics, and environmental hazardous materials. Our study characterized the potential cancerous role of lead (Pb) as a common toxic environmental pollutant agent on CIN outcomes. Lead concentration was quantified using an atomic absorption spectrometer in liquid-based cytology specimens of 40 CIN-HPV positive subjects, 50 HPV infected non-cancerous cases, and 43 non-HPV infected/non-cancerous women. Pb concentration was 5.5 (4.7–6.4) μg/dL, 4.7 (4.2–8.7) μg/dL, and 4.7 (4.5–5.4) μg/dL in the CIN-HPV positive group, HPV infected non-cancerous cases, and non-HPV infected/non-cancerous group, respectively. The results showed higher Pb concentration is associated with higher risk for cervical malignancy in comparison with non-HPV infected/non-cancerous subjects, after controlling for age effect (aOR = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.55–15.07, P < 0.01). Our finding suggested a direct significant association between Pb accumulation and CIN existence. The consequences need to be further validated by including more relevant risk factors and controlling the confounders for better understating of Pb impact from outdoor air pollution on cervical cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oyster shells (OS) and sewage sludge ash (SSA) co-incinerated produced P fertilizer. • Oxy-steam atmosphere and 7.5 % OS led to the highest P bioavailability (46.8 mg·g−1). • Oxy-steam atmosphere elevated P bioavailability and metal ecotoxicity of ash. • Oxy-steam atmosphere and 15% OS maximized P bio and minimized metal contents of SSA. • Excessive OS addition increased leachable chromium form. The study was aimed at the reutilization of oyster shells (OS) as a calcium-based additive to turn sewage sludge ash into phosphate fertilizer, employing the oxygen-enriched combustion technology. This process transformed all non-apatite inorganic phosphorus into apatite phosphorus with the incorporation of a 7.5% Ca-based additive. OS demonstrated comparable effectiveness to CaO in catalyzing this transformation in the oxygen-steam atmosphere. The amount of OS added and the atmosphere type significantly influenced the P bioavailability of sewage sludge ash. The oxygen-steam atmosphere, with its increased water vapor concentration, facilitated the decomposition of CaCO 3 and initiated reactions with calcium phosphate to form hydroxyapatite, thus substantially enhancing P bioavailability. The oxygen-steam atmosphere increased not only metal volatilization but also the ecological toxicity of residual metals, particularly Pb, mainly in the form of F2. Excessive OS addition appeared to elevate the toxicity of Cr. Therefore, additional strategies for metal removal or passivation are needed to improve the safety of sewage sludge ash with high metal content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood lead level (BLL) is the primary biomarker for lead-exposure monitoring in occupationally exposed workers. We evaluated occupational lead-exposure (OE) impact on cardiopulmonary functions in lead-acid battery recycling unit workers. Seventy-six OE cases and 30 control subjects were enrolled for questionnaire-based socio-demographic, dietary, tobacco usage, and medical history data. Anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and pulmonary function tests were performed. Venous blood was collected for BLL, hematological analysis, and biochemical analysis. OE caused a significant increase in BLL, SBP, DBP, and small airways obstruction in lung function tests. It also impaired platelet indices, affected renal and liver biochemical measurements, and promoted oxidative stress and DNA damage. Multilinear regression analysis suggested that BLL affected SBP (β = 0.314, p =.034) and increased small airways obstruction (FEV1/FVC, β = −0.37, p =.05; FEV25–75%, β = −0.351, p =.016). Higher BLL appears to be an independent modulator of hypertension and poor pulmonary function upon occupational lead exposure in lead-acid battery recyclers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental model was established based on the premise that environmental and water conditions can influence the effects of toxic agents on living beings. To verify if circalunar phases and water agitation can modify the toxicity of lead chloride on in vitro Artemia salina, cysts were exposed to seawater containing 0.04% of lead chloride (equal to EC10 or 10% effective concentration) in 96-well culture plates. Thirty-six experimental repetitions were performed in four series to observe the possible effects of adding stirred water, the so-called succussed water, and of moon phases on toxicity. The cysts were recorded after 48 hours using a digital microscope (1000x magnification) to identify hatching percentage, nauplii viability and mobility. The exposure of cysts to lead chloride (PbCl2) led to an increase in the hatching rate, and this was more evident during the full moon. Addition of succussed water into the seawater medium reduced this effect to baseline levels. An increase in mobility was seen in nauplii born from exposed cysts during the full moon, but this effect was not affected by treatment with succussed water. The organization of nano and microbubbles generated after the succussion of water is supposed to be related to this protective effect. In conclusion, environmental factors, such as the circalunar cycle and products of water agitation, can modulate the adaptive control of hatching in Artemia salina exposed to lead chloride at EC10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead wheel weights have been used on vehicles in the United States since the 1930s. While they have served the function of balancing our tires and ensuring a smooth ride, they also contribute to an often-overlooked source of lead contamination and potential lead poisoning. Lead is a toxic element that can enter the brain and lead to developmental problems, lower IQ, permanent brain damage, and death. Lead wheel weights release lead into the atmosphere both in production and, as often happens, they fall off tires and end up leaching into the soil or water. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated that each year, 2,000 metric tons of lead in wheel weights are lost on U.S. highways (Bleiwas, 2006), and from 1934 to 2016, an estimated total of 83,392 tons of lead was released as lead wheel weights fell onto our roads, sidewalks, grass, and roadside dirt by cars, buses, and trucks. This estimate is based on Bleiwas's (2006) 2,000 tons per year and on the Ecology Center's estimate of 1,898 tons of lead lost on roads in 2008 and about 1,000 tons of lead in 2015. The estimated release of lead before 2006 is based on the number of cars, trucks, and buses on the roads from 1934 to 2015. Worldwide, an estimated 70,000 tons/year of lead from wheel weights are released onto highways. Within the last few years, the voluntary change from lead to steel in some states in the United States has cut lead wheel weight loss to ~1,000 metric tons/year, but the fate of lost lead wheel weights continues to be a potential source of lead contamination from large urban areas to small towns. The study area of our research is three smaller communities in west Georgia and one near Atlanta. One goal of our research is to refine methods of retrieval of lead wheel weights from busy roads and encourage individuals and groups to collect and recycle lead wheel weights. The long-term outcomes of this research are (1) to recommend a complete ban on new lead wheel weights, (2) to encourage a quick voluntary and easy replacement of lead wheel weights with steel, and (3) to encourage groups of people in towns and cities to follow the example of Root (2000, 2015), Aucott and Caldarelli (2011), and Frazer and van der Touw (2014) and pick up and recycle lead wheel weights in every small town and city in North America. A switch to no lead wheel weights will help United States manufacturers that are now producing both lead and non-lead wheel weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-school students tested soil, paint, and water for lead (Pb) in a total of 80 houses in their town of Pelham, New York, where blood-Pb data indicate relatively high levels of child exposure. All the samples were tested in the laboratory using established procedures but this was preceded by testing of soil and paint in the field with a kit by the students. The total Pb concentration in 32 of the 159 soil samples that were collected exceeded 400 ppm, the EPA standard for bare soil in residential areas where children play. Only 4 of the 118 tap water samples that were collected contained over 15 ppb Pb, with the data showing that flushing for 2 min clearly lowered Pb concentration further across the board. The highest risk of child exposure may be posed by old Pb-based paint, however, which was detected in 9 of the 48 samples that were tested. Residents were also the least willing to let the students test or sample their paint. High-school students could help reduce exposure in the many towns where child blood-Pb levels remain high today by identifying sources and, while doing so, learn about environmental science and measurement from this hands-on experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric-field controlled magnetism is a potential way to realize strong magneto-electric (ME) coupling for nonvolatile memory applications. The electric field induced nonvolatile modulated magnetization was obtained in NiFe2O4/SrRuO3/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 (PMN-PT) thin film heterostructures. The collective effect of charge and strain significantly modified the magnetization of the NiFe2O4 layer in NiFe2O4/SrRuO3/PMN-PT heterostructures. The analysis of XMCD data establishes that the cation (Fe3+/Ni2+) redistribution occurs on tetrahedral and octahedral sites in the electric field poled NiFe2O4 films, confirming the coupling between magnetism and ferroelectric properties. The films demonstrate repeatable switching of sign of ME output voltage α (α = dP/dH) in response to the applied positive and negative electric pulse, which can be used to store binary information in the nonvolatile manner. The electric-field-controlled switching of α in thin films offers an energy-efficient approach for low-power-consumption nonvolatile memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead toxicity and related health issues have become global concern due to increased use of lead-based products in the modern world. Though attempts are being made to tackle this malady through many ways, the use of naturally occurring materials that are available locally is a subtle approach. In this investigation, the fruits of E. officinalis (EO) were studied for their potential in overcoming biochemical and hematological alterations caused by metallic lead in rat model. Four groups of rats, each containing six animals, were considered for the study. Group I served as normal control while to other groups (II-IV), metallic lead powder (100 ppm/rat) was orally administrated for 30 consecutive days. From day 31, the animals in groups III and IV were treated with EO in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (p. o.), respectively, for the following seven days. Group II served as lead-treated control. On day 38, the animals in all groups were sacrificed and the blood was collected and serum separated. The changes in biochemical (aspartate aminotrasferase, alanine aminotrasferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltrasferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine and calcium) and hematological (red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume and platelet count) parameters were estimated. Lead treated animals in Group - II showed appreciable changes in hematological and biochemical parameters. Treatment with EO (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly restored the changes in the above parameters to near normal values implying that the fruit of E. officinalis is an effective natural material to overcome widespread lead toxicity. This observation is further supported by histopathological studies of liver and kidney tissues wherein the distorted architecture, degeneration and other changes found in lead-treated animals were brought back to near normal stages by the treatment of EO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new sample preparation alternatives in analytical toxicology leading to quick, effective, automated and environmentally friendly procedures is growing in importance. One of these alternatives is the QuEChERS, originally developed for the analysis of pesticide residues, producing cleaner extracts than liquid–liquid extraction, and easier separation of aqueous and organic phases. However, there are few published studies on the miniaturization of this technique for forensic toxicology, especially in postmortem analysis. We developed and validated a modified micro-QuEChERS and LC–MS-MS assay to quantify 16 antidepressants, 7 antipsychotics and 3 metabolites and semi-quantify norfluoxetine and norsertraline in postmortem blood. The calibration curve was linear from 1 to 500 ng/mL, achieved an r  > 0.99, with all standards quantifying within ±15% of target except ±20% at the limit of quantification of 1 ng/mL for 26 substances. The F test was applied to evaluate if the variance between replicates remained constant for all calibrators. Six weighting factors were analyzed (1/x, 1/x2, 1/x0,5, 1/y, 1/y2 and 1/y0,5), with the weighting factor with the lowest sum of residual regression errors (1/x2) selected. No endogenous or exogenous interferences were observed. Method imprecision and bias were <19.0% and 19.7%, respectively. Advantages of this method include a low sample volume of 100 µL, simple but effective sample preparation and a rapid 8.5-min run time. The validated analytical method was successfully applied to the analysis of 100 authentic postmortem samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low birth weight (LBW) is a worldwide public health problem as it is the most important cause of infant deaths and contributes significantly to the burden of childhood problems. There are many studies that have investigated the relationship between LBW and lead exposure, but the mechanism underlying lead exposure and increased risk of LBW are still unknown. In our study, we aimed to determine the effect of lead on endothelial dysfunction by investigating the relationship between the severity of exposure, birth weight and methylated arginines in pregnant women. The study was carried with 165 pregnant women. Placental methylated arginines (ADMA, SDMA, L-NMMA), arginine, citrulline, homoarginine cadmium and lead levels were analyzed. Pb level was significantly higher in the 25% and below percentile group compared with other groups. There was a negative correlation between birth weight and Pb levels. A statistically significant correlation was found between Pb and birth length, Cd, ADMA and SDMA. It is possible to say that the underlying mechanism in fetal growth retardation due to lead exposure can be linked to placental endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N,N'-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)isophthalamide (NBMI) is a novel lipophilic heavy metal chelator and thiol redox antioxidant. This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective activity of NBMI in U-87 MG cells exposed to lead acetate (PbAc). Cells were pretreated with NBMI for 24 h prior to a 48 h exposure to PbAc. Cell death (55%, p < 0.0001) and reduction of intracellular GSH levels (0.70-fold, p < 0.005) induced by 250 µM Pb were successfully attenuated by NBMI pretreatment at concentrations as low as 10 µM. A similar pretreatment with the FDA-approved Pb chelator dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) proved ineffective, indicating a superior PKPD profile for NBMI. Pretreatment with NBMI successfully counteracted Pb-induced neuroinflammation by reducing IL-1β (0.59-fold, p < 0.05) and GFAP expression levels. NBMI alone was also found to significantly increase ferroportin expression (1.97-fold, p < 0.05) thereby enhancing cellular ability to efflux heavy metals. While no response was observed on the apoptotic pathway, this study demonstrated for the first time that necrotic cell death induced by Pb in U-87 MG cells is successfully attenuated by NBMI. Collectively these data demonstrate NBMI to be a promising neuroprotective compound in the realm of Pb poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the pollution level of toxic elements in edible mushrooms from Jilin Province, China, the lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic content present in them were monitored and evaluated. A total of 610 edible mushroom samples, including fresh and dried, were collected from nine cities in the Jilin Province. The concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic ranged from 0.007 to 3.31, 0.006 to 48.52, 0.003 to 0.56, and 0.008 to 57.34 mg/kg, respectively, in dried samples, and 0.007 to 0.06, 0.006 to 0.17, 0.003 to 0.06, and 0.008 to 0.12 mg/kg, respectively, in fresh samples. The concentration of cadmium and arsenic exceeded the standard (Cd ≤ 0.2 mg/kg, Cd of Lentinus edodes ≤ 0.5 mg/kg, and As ≤ 0.5 mg/kg) in some mushroom samples. The bioconcentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic depended on the edible mushroom species, environment, and the physicochemical properties of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. The results of the single factor pollution index, a method used to calculate the level of single elements in substances, showed that all edible mushrooms were at the level of unpolluted except Tricholoma matsutake and Pleurotus eryngii. The comprehensive factor (P) for T. matsutake was 1.093. The comprehensive factor pollution index, a method used to calculate the level of combined mixture in substances, was in the unpolluted level, except for T. matsutake. The pollution index results showed that cadmium and arsenic concentrations were lightly polluting in some mushroom samples. The health risk index for arsenic was the highest. Therefore, more attention should be paid to arsenic contamination in T. matsutake and P. eryngii in the Jilin Province, China. Practical Application: In this paper, we evaluated the contamination levels and associated safety issues of four toxic elements, lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, in edible mushrooms. The results showed that cadmium and arsenic concentrations were lightly polluting in some mushroom samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead acetate (AcPb) is an important raw material used in chemical industries worldwide. The potential toxicity of AcPb is generally attributed to the presence of Pb. However, the effect of AcPb on the environment as a whole is still poorly known. This study aimed to evaluate AcPb toxicity on three standard species of soil invertebrates and two plant species using ecotoxicology tests. Three tropical soils (Oxisol, Inceptisol, and Tropical Artificial Soil (TAS)) were contaminated with different concentrations of AcPb and one dose of K-acetate (positive control). These soils were used in tests with Eisenia andrei (earthworm), Folsomia candida (springtail), Enchytraeus crypticus (enchytraeid), Zea mays (maize), and Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean). Dose-response curves obtained in the laboratory tests were used to estimate the EC50 values for each species. Among invertebrates, the highest sensitivity to AcPb was observed for E. crypticus in the TAS (EC50 = 29.8 mg AcPb kg−1), whereas for E. andrei and F. candida the highest sensitivity was observed in the Oxisol (EC50 = 141.9 and 1835 mg AcPb kg−1, respectively). Folsomia candida was the least sensitive invertebrate species to AcPb in all soils. Among plant species, Z. mays was less sensitive (EC50 = 1527.5 mg AcPb kg−1) than P. vulgaris (EC50 = 560.5 mg AcPb kg−1) in the Oxisol. The present study evidenced that the toxicity of AcPb should not be attributed uniquely to the presence of Pb, as the treatment containing uniquely Ac provoked the same toxicity as the highest dose of AcPb. Highlights: Lead acetate significantly affected all standard species tested. Enchytraeus crypticus was the most sensitive species in all tested soils. Zea mays was less sensitive to AcPb than Phaseolus vulgaris. K-acetate equivalent to the highest AcPb dose was as toxic as the highest AcPb dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a tumor predisposition syndrome inherited in autosomal dominant manner. Besides the intragenic loss-of-function mutations in NF1 gene, large deletions encompassing the NF1 gene and its flanking regions are responsible for the development of the variable clinical phenotype. These large deletions titled as NF1 microdeletions lead to a more severe clinical phenotype than those observed in patients with intragenic NF1 mutations. Around 5-10% of the cases harbor large deletion and four major types of NF1 microdeletions (type 1, 2, 3 and atypical) have been identified so far. They are distinguishable in term of their size and the location of the breakpoints, by the frequency of somatic mosaicism with normal cells not harboring the deletion and by the number of the affected genes within the deleted region. In our study genotype-phenotype analyses have been performed in 17 mostly pediatric patients with NF1 microdeletion syndrome identified by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification after systematic sequencing of the NF1 gene. Confirmation and classification of the NF1 large deletions were performed using array comparative genomic hybridization, where it was feasible. In our patient cohort 70% of the patients possess type-1 deletion, one patient harbors type-2 deletion and 23% of our cases have atypical NF1 deletion. All the atypical deletions identified in this study proved to be novel. One patient with atypical deletion displayed mosaicism. In our study NF1 microdeletion patients presented dysmorphic facial features, macrocephaly, large hands and feet, delayed cognitive development and/or learning difficulties, speech difficulties, overgrowth more often than patients with intragenic NF1 mutations. Moreover, neurobehavior problems, macrocephaly and overgrowth were less frequent in atypical cases compared to type-1 deletion. Proper diagnosis is challenging in certain patients since several clinical manifestations show age-dependency. Large tumor load exhibited more frequently in this type of disorder, therefore better understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations and progress of the disease is essential for individuals suffering from neurofibromatosis to improve the quality of their life. Our study presented additional clinical data related to NF1 microdeletion patients especially for pediatric cases and it contributes to the better understanding of this type of disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is a known toxic heavy metal which accumulates in different tissues and causes oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. The brain tissue is considered as one of the most vulnerable organs to the Pb-induced toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of vitamin D3 (VD) supplementation against the damages caused by chronic Pb toxicity in the cerebral cortex. Forty Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups and were treated as follows: control group received no treatment, VD group received 1000 IU/kg of VD by intramuscular injection every other day, Pb group received 1000 mg/L of Pb in drinking water, and Pb + VD group received VD and Pb simultaneously. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks and the analyses were conducted 24 h after the last administrations. The obtained results demonstrated that Pb significantly increased cortical lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. At the same time, there was a significant reduction in glutathione (GSH) content, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as a significant increase in the tissue level of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Pb increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Anyhow, VD administration during the period of Pb exposure suppressed the OS and inflammation by increasing the antioxidant molecules and decreasing the inflammatory cytokines and consequently repaired Pb-induced cortical tissue damages. Remarkably, these responses were concomitant with the alterations in Nrf2 and NF-κB gene expressions. In conclusion, the present study discloses the potential protective effects for VD against Pb-induced neurotoxicity via anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is a ubiquitous heavy metal toxin of significant public health concern. Every individual varies in their response to lead's toxic effects due to underlying genetic variations in lead metabolizing enzymes or proteins distributed in the population. Earlier studies, including our lab, have attributed the influence of ALAD (δ-Aminolevulinate dehydratase) polymorphism on blood lead retention and ALAD activity. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of VDR (Vitamin D receptor) and HFE (Hemochromatosis) polymorphisms in modulating blood lead levels (BLLs) of occupationally exposed workers. 164 lead-exposed subjects involved in lead alloy manufacturing and battery breaking and recycling processes and 160 unexposed controls with BLLs below 10 µg/dL recruited in the study. Blood lead levels, along with a battery of biochemical assays and genotyping, were performed. Regression analysis revealed a negative influence of BLLs on ALAD activity (p < 0.0001) and a positive influence on smokeless tobacco use (p < 0.001) in lead-exposed subjects. A predicted haplotype of the three VDR polymorphisms computed from genotyping data revealed that T-A-A haplotype increased the BLLs by 0.93 units (p ≤ 0.05) and C-C-A haplotype decreased the BLLs by 7.25 units (p ≤ 0.05). Further analysis revealed that the wild-type CC genotype of HFE H63D presented a higher median BLL, indicating that variant C allele may have a role in increasing the concentration of lead. Hence, the polymorphism of genes associated with lead metabolism might aid in predicting genetic predisposition to lead and its associated effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis can enhance plant growth in unfavorable conditions. However, functional variations among different AMF species for their ability to enhance phosphorus (P) uptake and soybean tolerance in lead (Pb) contaminated soil have rarely been examined. The present study therefore aimed to compare the growth, P uptake and Pb tolerance of soybean plants colonized by different AMF and to test the relationship between P uptake efficiency and Pb uptake in Pb contaminated soil. Soybean inoculated with three different AMF, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Rhizophagus intraradices and control was grown under three Pb addition levels (0, 100 and 300 mg kg−1) in a pot experiment. The results showed that AMF inoculation significantly promoted the plant growth, P uptake and Pb accumulation in the roots, with less translocation of Pb from roots to the shoots compared to non-inoculated plants. Soybean plants inoculated with R. intraradices were more tolerant to Pb toxicity compared with other two AMF species in terms of higher root colonization, biomass, P uptake and seed yield. Significant linear correlations were observed between biomass, P uptake and Pb uptake of the plant. The findings in this study are essential in using AMF to promote soybean growth and P uptake in heavy metal-contaminated soils. Moreover, symbiotic P uptake and retention of Pb in roots of plants could serve as important criteria for screening of efficient AMF species or isolates for plant growth, P nutrition and metal tolerance in heavy metal contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human protein farnesyltransferase is a key enzyme for the lipid modification of a large and important number of proteins, which has been recognized as the promising therapeutic target of pain disorder and other diseases such as inflammation and cancer. In this study, we systematically investigated the binding behavior of existing peptide substrates and antagonists to farnesyltransferase at structural level and revealed that peptide's C-terminus is primarily responsible for the binding, while exposing N-terminus to solvent. The amino acid property preference profile at each of the six core N-terminal residue positions of a cocrystallized chimera peptide substrate was defined, based on which a combinatorial library that contains more than twenty thousands of peptide-like compounds (PLCs) was generated using sixteen structurally diverse non-natural amino acids as building blocks. Subsequently, a systematic protocol was exhaustively carried out to perform virtual screening against the library, in order to discover those PLCs that match well the property preference profile and simultaneously exhibit high binding potency to farnesyltransferase. Consequently, ninety hits were identified from the library, in which five structurally diverse PLCs with high consensus scores were determined to have potent or moderate affinity to the active site of farnesyltransferase through nonbonded/coordination interactions. These identified PLCs can be considered as promising lead molecular entities to further develop peptidomimetic farnesyltransferase antagonists combating pain, inflammation and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals exposure has been linked to severe health problems. In Mexico, the Monterrey metropolitan area (MMA) is considered one of the most polluted industrial regions. Because birds have been used successfully as environmental biomonitors, the levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic in feathers of Great-tailed grackles (Quiscalusmexicanus) from two sites within and one site outside the MMA were determined. One hundred birds were captured, samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Ciudad Universitaria had the highest mean values of lead and cadmium, 11.91 ppm d.w. and 1.66 ppm d.w., respectively. This was at least, 10- and 8-times higher than the two other sample sites. We believe that using Great-tailed grackles as bioindicators in conjunction with air pollutants sampling from meteorological stations in Monterrey City could help in making decisions when applying environmental remediation measures as well as in the selection of places for housing, school and work among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]