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The geochemical conditions of landscapes are the content in the environment of certain chemical elements and their compounds, the lack or excess of which causes deviations in the state of human health. This problem has arisen in connection with the extraction of alluvial diamonds and the forthcoming development of the Tomtor deposit of rare-earth metals in the territories where the indigenous peoples of the North live. The study included 107 indigenous people of the North, belonging to the ethnic group of Dolgans living in the village of Yuryung-Khaya, Anabar district, Yakutia of Russia. The method of mass spectrometry was used to study the content of 13 trace elements in blood serum (P, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cs, Pb). The study revealed an increase in the content of the macroelement phosphorus (148 mg/L) and trace elements of chromium (277 μg/L), manganese (133 μg/L), iron (5219 μg/L), nickel (57 μg/L) in serum of Dolgans, which may affect the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system and other diseases among indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic under conditions of industrial development of territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The geochemical conditions of landscapes are the content in the environment of certain chemical elements and their compounds, the lack or excess of which causes deviations in the state of human health. This problem has arisen in connection with the extraction of alluvial diamonds and the forthcoming development of the Tomtor deposit of rare-earth metals in the territories where the indigenous peoples of the North live. The study included 107 indigenous people of the North, belonging to the ethnic group of Dolgans living in the village of Yuryung-Khaya, Anabar district, Yakutia of Russia. The method of mass spectrometry was used to study the content of 13 trace elements in blood serum (P, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cs, Pb). The study revealed an increase in the content of the macroelement phosphorus (148 mg/L) and trace elements of chromium (277 μg/L), manganese (133 μg/L), iron (5219 μg/L), nickel (57 μg/L) in serum of Dolgans, which may affect the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system and other diseases among indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic under conditions of industrial development of territories. more...

CuZrO 3 nanocomposites were prepared by chemical precipitation and oxidation at a high temperature (700 °C). The structural features of the fabricated CuZrO 3 nanocomposites (CuZrO 3 NCs) were elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results presented herein show that these nanocomposites formed a nanograde needle structure with high crystallinity. By mixing with graphene (Gr), a CuZrO 3 -Gr composite modified glassy carbon electrode (CuZrO 3 -Gr/GCE) was successfully constructed for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in a acetate (NaAc-HAc) buffer solution (pH 4.6) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Due to the synergetic effect of the CuZrO 3 nanoparticles and graphene, the CuZrO 3 -Gr/GCE showed excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical stability in the presence of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions. The limits of detection were 0.1 μg L −1 for Pb(II) and 0.5 μg L −1 for Cd(II). Application of this method for the co-detection of two ions in soil samples is expected to obtain useful results and possess significant advantages over tradition detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The literature suggests a dual role for humic acids involving both agonistic and antagonistic processes in the photo-chemical cycle in water. In this work, the use of Fe- and Cu-containing humic acid (HA) extracted from coal waste was evaluated for the enhancement of solar-based disinfection processes, namely solar light ( hv ), hv /H 2 O 2 , and hv /H 2 O 2 /Fe 2+ (photo-Fenton) processes. The differences in the enhancement of each process are reported herein. The degree of bacterial inactivation during solar disinfection under solar and visible light in the presence of the HAs was negatively correlated with the presence of metals, and was attributed to 3 DOM* and 1 O 2 -mediated events. However, the presence of metals greatly enhanced disinfection when H 2 O 2 was added by inducing a photo-Fenton process, and significantly reduced the inactivation times (>50%) due to homogeneous Fe- (Fenton) and Cu-based (Fenton-like)-assisted inactivation pathways. The addition of small quantities of Fe to HA-containing samples further enhanced the inactivation due to the ample generation of highly photo-active Fe-HA complexes. The result was a further ∼60% reduction in exposure time to achieve a 7-log bacterial reduction, as well as the degradation of the HA itself as a sacrificial electron donor, via an Fe-mediated ligand to metal charge transfer process. This work reveals new pathways in disinfection assisted by metal-containing HAs, and demonstrates their efficiency in reducing microbial loads with simultaneous elimination of the additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background Heavy metals are widely distributed in the environment. Recent reports have demonstrated the risk of preterm birth following heavy metal exposure. Preterm births are classified as early and late, depending on the duration of pregnancy, and are associated with increased risk of congenital illnesses such as heart failure, asthma, etc. Particularly, early preterm births carry a higher risk of mortality; however, the differential effects of heavy metal exposure on early and late preterm births are unknown. Objectives To analyze the association between maternal whole blood concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) that are common toxicants in Japan, and early and late preterm births. Methods The data of 14,847 pregnant women who were participants of the Japan Environment and Children's Study were used. Data of the self-questionnaire pertaining to the first trimester (T1), second/third trimester (T2), and medical records after delivery were analyzed. We divided preterm birth into two groups: early preterm (22 to < 34 weeks) and late preterm (34 to < 37 weeks). Maternal blood samples for measuring heavy metal concentrations were collected in T2 (pregnancy weeks: 14–39). The participants were classified into four quartiles (Q1–Q4) according to increasing heavy metal levels. Results The rate of preterm birth was 4.5%. After controlling for confounding factors, such as age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, smoking, partner's smoking, drinking habits, gravidity, parity, number of cesarean deliveries, uterine infections, household income, educational levels, and sex of infant, Cd levels were found, by multivariable logistic regression analysis, to be significantly associated with early preterm birth (p = 0.002), with odds ratio for early preterm birth of 1.91 (95% confidence interval: 1.12–3.27, P = 0.018) in subjects of Q4 compared with in subjects with term birth (≧ 37 weeks). Conclusion Maternal blood Cd levels during pregnancy are positively associated with the risk of early preterm birth among Japanese women. Identification of the main source of maternal Cd exposure may contribute to the prevention of early preterm births and health maintenance of mothers and their infants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This work explores the potential of multi-element fingerprinting in combination with advanced data mining strategies to assess the geographical origin of extra virgin olive oil samples. For this purpose, the concentrations of 55 elements were determined in 125 oil samples from multiple Spanish geographic areas. Several unsupervised and supervised multivariate statistical techniques were used to build classification models and investigate the relationship between mineral composition of olive oils and their provenance. Results showed that Spanish extra virgin olive oils exhibit characteristic element profiles, which can be differentiated on the basis of their origin in accordance with three geographical areas: Atlantic coast (Huelva province), Mediterranean coast and inland regions. Furthermore, statistical modelling yielded high sensitivity and specificity, principally when random forest and support vector machines were employed, thus demonstrating the utility of these techniques in food traceability and authenticity research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Due to their high trophic level, raptor species may serve as important indicators of environmental contamination by heavy metals. This study was conducted to determine if the habitat of the black kite ( Milvus migrans ) is contaminated by heavy metals and arsenic and to assess the degree and type of exposure that may be present. For this purpose, this study was conducted on a group of captive birds (n = 12) and on a group of free-living birds admitted to two wildlife rehabilitation centers (n = 31). Blood samples were taken for analysis of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Captive birds had the lowest blood concentrations for all toxic elements examined, but significant differences from the concentrations found in free-living birds were only observed for Hg and Pb (p < 0.01). Arsenic concentrations were almost three times higher in free-living birds (4.521 ± 5.695 µg/dl) then in captive birds (1.566 ± 0.753 µg/dl). In all the samples of captive birds’ mercury was not detected, while in free-living birds we observed a concentration of 7.493 ± 8.464 µg/dl (p < 0.01). Regarding lead, we observed a concentration almost four-fold higher in free-living birds (19.430 ± 29.294 µg/dl) then in captive birds (4.449 ± 1.987 µg/dl) (p < 0.01). Therefore, available sources of Pb and Hg seem to be present in the habitat of the black kite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The leaching of P from the upper 20 cm of forest topsoils influences nutrient (re-)cycling and the redistribution of available phosphate and organic P forms. However, the effective leaching of colloids and associated P forms from forest topsoils was so far sparsely investigated. We demonstrated through irrigation experiments with undisturbed mesocosm soil columns, that significant proportions of P leached from acidic forest topsoils were associated with natural colloids. These colloids had a maximum size of 400 nm. By means of Field-flow fractionation the leached soil colloids could be separated into three size fractions. The size and composition was comparable to colloids present in acidic forest streams known from literature. The composition of leached colloids of the three size classes was dominated by organic carbon. Furthermore, these colloids contained large concentrations of P which amounted between 12 and 91% of the totally leached P depending on the type of the forest soil. The fraction of other elements leached with colloids ranged between 1% and 25% (Fe: 1–25%; C org : 3–17%; Al: <4%; Si, Ca, Mn: all <2%). The proportion of colloid–associated P decreased with increasing total P leaching. Leaching of total and colloid-associated P from the forest surface soil did not increase with increasing bulk soil P concentrations and were also not related to tree species. The present study highlighted that colloid-facilitated P leaching can be of higher relevance for the P leaching from forest surface soils than dissolved P and should not be neglected in soil water flux studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The ultramafic massifs of the New Caledonian archipelago contain about 10% of the world's nickel reserves, which also contain significant but lower amounts of cobalt, chromium, and manganese. Natural erosion of these massifs and mining activities may contribute to the exposure of local populations to these metals through contamination of air, food, and water resources. We conducted a biomonitoring survey to evaluate exposure to these four metals and its main determinants by constructing a stratified sample of 732 adults and children (>3 years old) from visitors to 22 health centers across the archipelago. Urine was collected and analyzed by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine metal concentrations. A face-to-face interview was conducted to document sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and dietary habits, and residence-mine distance. Environmental samples (soil, house dust, water, and foodstuffs) were collected from two areas (one with and one without mining activity) to delineate determinants of exposure in more detail. Nickel and chromium were metals with the highest concentrations found in urine, especially in children, at levels exceeding reference values derived from representative national surveys elsewhere throughout the world (for children: 4.7 μg/g creatinine for nickel and 0.50 μg/g creatinine for chromium): 13% of children exceeded the reference value for nickel and 90% for chromium. Large variations were observed by region, age, and sex. In this geological setting, urinary and environmental nickel concentrations appear to be driven mainly by soil content. This is the first archipelago-wide survey of metal exposure in New Caledonia. The potential health consequences of this chronic high exposure need to be assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background Parkinson’s disease is affecting about 1% of the population above 65 years. Improvements in medicine support prolonged lifetime which increases the total concentration of humans affected by the disease. It is suggested that occupational and environmental exposure to metals like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) can influence the risk for Parkinson’s disease. These metals play a key role as cofactors in many enzymes and proteins. Methods In this case-control study, we investigated the Mn-, Fe-, Cu- and Zn-species in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by size-exclusion chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) and the total concentration of these metals by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-sf-MS). Results The investigation of total metal concentration and speciation provided only minor changes, but it produced strong significance for a number of ratios. The analysis revealed a strong change in the ratio between total concentration of Fe and the amino acid-fraction of Cu. This could be observed when analyzing both the respective element concentrations of the fraction (which also depends on individual variation of the total element concentration) as well as when being expressed as percentage of total concentration (normalization) which more clearly shows changes of distribution pattern independent of individual variation of total element concentrations. Conclusion Speciation analysis, therefore, is a powerful technique to investigate changes in a case-control study where ratios of different species play an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The aim of this systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression was to examine the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and concentration of zinc in whole blood, as well as dietary zinc intake. Searches were performed using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase (Ovid) and The Cochrane Library (CENTRAL). Observational studies conducted on diabetic and healthy adults, with data on dietary zinc intake and/or concentration of zinc in whole blood, were selected. The search strategy yielded 11,150 publications and the manual search 6, of which 11 were included in the meta-analyses. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI), were calculated using the generic inverse-variance method with random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Cochran Q-statistic and quantified by the I 2 statistic. Meta-regressions and stratified analysis were used to examine whether any covariate had influence on the results. The pooled MD for the dietary zinc intake meta-analysis was −0.40 (95% CI: −1.59 to 0.79; I 2  = 61.0%). Differences between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects became significant in the presence of complications associated with diabetes (MD = −2.26; 95% CI: −3.49 to −1.02; I 2  = 11.9%). Meta-regression showed that for each year since the diagnosis of diabetes the concentration of zinc in whole blood decreased in diabetic patients regarding healthy controls [MD (concentration of zinc in blood) = 732.61 + (−77.88303) × (duration of diabetes in years)], which is not generally explained by a lower intake of zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) analyzes noncovalent interactions between ligands and analytes based on changes in their electrophoretic mobility. This technique has been widely used to investigate various biomolecules, mainly proteins, polysaccharides and hormones. ACE is becoming a technique of choice to validate high throughput screening results, since it is very predictively working in realistic and relevant media, e.g. in body fluids. It is highly recommended to incorporate ACE as a powerful analytical tool to properly prepare animal testing and preclinical studies. The interacting molecules can be found free in solution or can be immobilized to a solid support. Thus, ACE is classified in two modes, free solution ACE and immobilized ACE. Every ACE mode has advantages and disadvantages. Each can be used for a variety of applications. This review covers literature of scopus and SciFinder data base in the period from 2016 until beginning 2018, including the keywords “affinity capillary electrophoresis”, “immunoaffinity capillary electrophoresis”, “immunoassay capillary electrophoresis” and “immunosorbent capillary electrophoresis”. More than 200 articles have been found and 112 have been selected and thoroughly discussed. During this period, the data processing and the underlying calculations in mobility shift ACE (ms ACE), frontal analysis ACE (FA ACE) and plug-plug kinetic capillary electrophoresis (ppKCE) as mostly applied free solution techniques have substantially improved. The range of applications in diverse free solution and immobilized ACE techniques has been considerably broadened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The functional state of δ-opioid receptor signaling cascade in live cells exposed to a therapeutic concentration of lithium for a prolonged period of time (weeks) is not known because the previous studies of Li interference with OR were oriented to µ-OR only. The same applies to the analysis of the prolonged effect of Li on oxidative stress in context with δ-OR function. HEK293 cells stably expressing δ-OR were cultivated in the presence or absence of 1 mM LiCl for 7 or 21 days, homogenized and the post-nuclear (PNS) and plasma membrane (PM) fractions prepared from all four types of cells. Level of δ-OR in PM was determined by specific radioligand [ 3 H]DADLE binding and immunoblot assays; the functional coupling between δ-OR and G proteins was determined as DADLE-stimulated high-affinity [ 35 S]GTPγS binding. In the whole cells, general oxidative stress was monitored by fluorescent dye 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF) and results verified by analysis of PNS and isolated PM . Generation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE)-protein adducts and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were determined as products of lipid peroxidation. Li-treated cells exhibited the decreased amount of δ-OR. This was evidenced by both [ 3 H]DADLE binding and immunoblot assays. The δ-OR-G protein coupling efficiency was diminished. Simultaneously, in Li-treated cells, the highly increased oxidative stress measured as DCF fluorescence intensity was noticed. Importantly, this result was detected in live cells as well as PNS and PM. Accordingly, production of 4-HNE-protein adducts and MDA was clearly increased in Li-treated cells. The general significance of our work lies in presentation of novel data indicating that prolonged exposure of live HEK293 cells to the therapeutic concentration of Li results in down-regulation of δ-OR protein level and attenuation of δ-OR function in parallel with increased oxidative stress and increased level of lipid peroxidation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This review represents a detailed discussion of the multivariate methods used in the examination of forensic exhibits; their advantages, disadvantages, and efficiency are compared. The last decade has seen the application of the chemometric methods combined with analytical techniques for characterization and discrimination of samples, which leads to the informative and representative examinations of the samples. Many research articles with reference to the use of chemometrics in forensic science have been published. This review has been divided into various sections which include chemometrics, its history, multivariate methods, and the application of chemometrics in various disciplines of forensic science. It is suggested that these new techniques and mathematical/statistical methods should be utilized in forensic science casework to get statistical confidence in the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Acquired hearing loss is caused by complex interactions of multiple environmental risk factors, such as elevated levels of lead and noise, which are prevalent in urban communities. This study delineates the mechanism underlying lead-induced auditory dysfunction and its potential interaction with noise exposure. Young-adult C57BL/6 mice were exposed to: 1) control conditions; 2) 2 mM lead acetate in drinking water for 28 days; 3) 90 dB broadband noise 2 h/day for two weeks; and 4) both lead and noise. Blood lead levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis (ICP-MS) lead-induced cochlear oxidative stress signaling was assessed using targeted gene arrays, and the hearing thresholds were assessed by recording auditory brainstem responses. Chronic lead exposure downregulated cochlear Sod1, Gpx1, and Gstk1, which encode critical antioxidant enzymes, and upregulated ApoE, Hspa1a, Ercc2, Prnp, Ccl5, and Sqstm1, which are indicative of cellular apoptosis. Isolated exposure to lead or noise induced 8–12 dB and 11–25 dB shifts in hearing thresholds, respectively. Combined exposure induced 18–30 dB shifts, which was significantly higher than that observed with isolated exposures. This study suggests that chronic exposure to lead induces cochlear oxidative stress and potentiates noise-induced hearing impairment, possibly through parallel pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Citronella oil was extracted from Cymbopogon nardus by ohmic-assisted hydrodistillation (OAHD) and hydrodistillation (HD) and its specifications were studied by DPPH assay and chromatography-mass spectrometry. The changes in extraction media were also studied by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. HD and OAHD yielded the same amount of essential oil (1.5% w/w), with similar physical properties. Conversely, OAHD yielded a higher value essential oil, considering the stronger antioxidant activity (IC 50 of 326 vs. 428 μg/mL) and the enhanced concentration of valuable compounds such as citronellal (77.5 ± 0.2 vs. 74.8 ± 0.2) and d -limonene (3.3 ± 0.2 vs. 1.8 ± 0.0). OAHD also saved 46% and 79% of the process time and energy, respectively. However, electrode corrosion was observed in OAHD and metal ions were transferred from titanium electrodes into the extraction medium (Ti concentration: 0.05 mg/L). Precautions to minimize electrode corrosion should be considered for industrial adaptation of OAHD. Industrial relevance Ohmic-assisted hydrodistillation is a promising extraction technique to enhance the product quality and to reduce the production time and consumed energy. This innovative technique has the potential of increasing the production capacity and decreasing the production cost for essential oil and distillatory industries. However, this study revealed the occurrence of electrochemical reactions between electrodes and extraction media which resulted in metal ion migration and residue pollution. Therefore, selecting appropriate materials as the OAHD electrodes, optimizing the process parameters and careful handling of the production waste should be considered for industrial application of this emerging method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Iron is an essential trace element and involved in various key metabolic pathways in bacterial lifestyle. Within the human host, iron is extremely limited. Hence, the ability of bacteria to acquire iron from the environment is critical for a successful infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a human pathobiont colonizing symptomless the human respiratory tract, but can also cause various local and invasive infections. To survive and proliferate pneumococci have therefore to adapt their metabolism and virulence factor repertoire to different host compartments. In this study, the response of S. pneumoniae to iron limitation as infection-relevant condition was investigated on the proteome level. The iron limitation was induced by application of the iron chelator 2,2′-bipyridine (BIP) in two different media mimicking different physiological traits. Under these conditions, the influence of the initial iron concentration on pneumococcal protein expression in response to limited iron availability was analyzed. Interestingly, one major difference between these two iron limitation experiments is the regulation of proteins involved in pneumococcal pathogenesis. In iron-poor medium several proteins of this group were downregulated whereas these proteins are upregulated in iron-rich medium. However, iron limitation in both environments led to a strong upregulation of the iron uptake protein PiuA and the significant downregulation of the non-heme iron-containing ferritin Dpr. Based on the results, it is shown that the pneumococcal proteome response to iron limitation is strongly dependent on the initial iron concentration in the medium or the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background Adverse health effects of particulate matter (PM) vary with chemical composition; however, evidence regarding which elements are the most detrimental is limited. The roof space area provides an open and stable environment for outdoor PM to settle and deposit. Therefore, this study used roof space PM samples as a proxy of residential cumulative exposure to outdoor air pollution to investigate their pro-inflammatory effects on human lung cells and the contribution of the endotoxin and chemical content. Methods Roof space PM samples of 36 different homes were collected and analysed using standardised techniques. We evaluated cytotoxicity and cytokine production of BEAS-2B cells after PM exposure using MTS and ELISA, respectively. Principle component analysis (PCA) and linear regression analyses were employed to assess the associations between cytokine production and the PM components. Results PM caused significant time- and dose-dependent increases in cellular cytokine production (p < 0.05). PCA identified four factors that explained 68.33% of the variance in the chemical composition. An increase in Factor 1 (+Fe, +Al, +Mn) score and a decrease in Factor 2 (-Ca, +Pb, +PAH) score were associated with increased interleukin (IL)-6 (Factor 1; p = 0.010; Factor 2; p = 0.006) and IL-8 (Factor 1; p = 0.003; Factor 2; p = 0.020) production, however, only the association with Factor 1 was evident after correcting for endotoxin and particle size. Conclusions Our study provides novel insight into the positive associations between pro-inflammatory effects of roof space PM samples with Fe, Al and Mn levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

NH 4 + and NO 3 − are two major nitrogen sources that differentially affect the uptake and transfer of other nutrients in rice ( Oryza sativa ), although their effects on Fe remobilization under Fe-starvation conditions are largely unknown. Here, by investigating the rice cultivar ‘Kasalath’ (Kas), which is tolerant of nutrient-deficient soil, we found that NH 4 + negatively regulates the hemicellulose 1 content in root cell walls and stimulates the secretion of phenolic compounds from roots under −Fe conditions, thus facilitating the release of cell wall Fe and increasing soluble Fe levels in roots. NH 4 + significantly increased the translocation of Fe from root to shoot by upregulating the expression of OsFRDL1 in roots and increasing the Fe content in the xylem. We further found that the higher putrescine content in rice roots under NH 4 + conditions led to a higher nitric oxide (NO) content compared with NO 3 − conditions, and that NO is involved in the NH 4 + -stimulated cell wall Fe reutilization. The addition of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside significantly reduced the hemicellulose 1 content in cell walls and increased Fe release from cell walls, ultimately increasing the soluble Fe content in rice and alleviating chlorosis under −Fe conditions. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that NH 4 + promotes Fe remobilization from the cell wall in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Cadmium is a known carcinogen that has been implicated in prostate cancer, but how it affects prostate carcinogenesis in humans remains unclear. Evidence from basic science suggests that cadmium can bind to the androgen receptor causing endocrine disruption. The androgen receptor is required for normal prostate development and is the key driver of prostate cancer progression. In this study, we examined the association between cadmium content and androgen receptor protein expression in prostate cancer tissue of African American (N = 22) and European American (N = 30) men. Although neither overall tumor cadmium content (log transformed) nor androgen receptor protein expression level differed by race, we observed a race-cadmium interaction with regard to androgen receptor expression ( P  = 0.003) even after accounting for age at prostatectomy, smoking history, and Gleason score. African American men had a significant positive correlation between tumor tissue cadmium content and androgen receptor expression (Pearson correlation = 0.52, P  = 0.013), while European Americans showed a non-significant negative correlation between the two (Pearson correlation = −0.19, P  = 0.31). These results were unchanged after further accounting for tissue zinc content or dietary zinc or selenium intake. African American cases with high-cadmium content (>median) in tumor tissue had more than double the androgen receptor expression (0.021 vs. 0.008, P  = 0.014) of African American men with low-cadmium level. No difference in androgen receptor expression was observed in European Americans by cadmium level (high 0.015 vs. low 0.011, P  = 0.30). Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and if upheld, determine the biologic mechanism by which cadmium increases androgen receptor protein expression in a race-dependent manner. Our results suggest that cadmium may play a role in race disparities observed in prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The aim of this work was to investigate, by five different administration protocols, the impact of the dosage, the time passed after the last injection and the frequency of injections, on accumulation and distribution of Gd-containing species in the body tissues of healthy mice upon repeated injections of Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents (GBCAs). Gadodiamide and Gadoteridol have been compared. The amount of Gd retained in several tissues/organs (cerebrum, cerebellum, spleen, liver, kidneys, eyes, skin, bone and muscle) has been assessed by ICP-MS upon administration of the GBCAs i) at three weeks or three months after the last administration, ii) when one, three or twelve doses of GBCA were administered and iii) when administrations were made every two weeks. Gd was found in all tissues after the administration of Gadodiamide. Conversely, in the case of Gadoteridol, Gd was detected only in spleen, kidneys, liver and bone. The amounts of Gd found in spleen, liver and kidneys markedly decrease upon increasing the time that has passed after the last administration, whereas, in the case of Gadodiamide, the decrease of Gd found in bone, cerebrum and cerebellum appears to occur at a much slower rate. Overall, areas of long term deposition appear to be bone and spleen for both GBCAs. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that intravenous multiple administrations of GBCAs is associated with extensive multiorgan retention which is reduced but not eliminated by the use of the macrocyclic Gadoteridol as well as by adopting reduced and/or less frequent dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Alongside the Brazil nut’s role as an excellent source of vitamins, oil, fatty acids, lipids and nutrients, it is also recognized as a rich source of selenium. The pathway along which selenium and sulfur are metabolized in plants is theorized to be the same as that used for tellurium. Total tellurium content and its bioaccessibility are then evaluated by ICP-MS. Interferences and sample preparation are evaluated for the accurate determination of tellurium, and the accuracy determined through analysis of the certified reference material 1643e. A concentration of 4.02 ± 0.391 ng g −1 is obtained as an average concentration through external and internal calibrations. Through this reliable result, tellurium bioaccessibility in Brazil nuts is obtained via an in vitro validated unified bioaccessibility method. Values of 32% and 30% of total tellurium are available in the gastric and gastrointestinal fractions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The metabolic alterations associated with obesity include mineral dysregulation. Essential trace elements are nutrients with a relevant function in a large number of cellular processes and multiple roles in the correct functioning of metabolic enzymes. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzyme that is compromised in obesity. In the present study, the potential alterations in trace elements in morbidly obese women were assessed in relation to serum PON1 activity and concentration, as well as to other obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and fatty liver. We recruited 41 morbidly obese women and 51 control individuals. The serum concentrations of 30 elements, PON1 paraoxonase and lactonase activities, and PON1 concentration were measured. We observed significant alterations in the levels of As, Ba, Cu, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, Se, Sr, and Zn in obese women; some of them (As, Ca, Cr, Cu, Mg, and Se) being significantly correlated with serum PON1 values. The most relevant changes were observed in the concentrations of As, Sr and Mg, the last of which was also significantly associated with diabetes mellitus. The current results raise the possibility that increased ingestion and/or storage of a number of trace elements may be factors predisposing to obesity-related comorbidities and metabolic alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Chromium (Cr) pollution caused by wastewater from tanneries is a worldwide environmental problem. To develop a countermeasure, we performed a comprehensive study using Hazaribagh, the tannery area in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, as a model. Our environmental monitoring indicated that the soluble form of Cr, but not barium or arsenic, in Buriganga River is derived from Hazaribagh. Our chemical analysis next showed that Cr, the primary pollutant in canal water at Hazaribagh, consisted of ≤0.7 μM hexavalent Cr [Cr(VI)] and ≤1705 μM trivalent Cr [Cr(III)]. Our biological study then showed that coexposure to Cr(VI) and Cr(III) at possible ratios in canal water at Hazaribagh synergistically promotes transforming activity of human non-tumorigenic HaCaT keratinocytes with activated MEK/ERK and AKT. Our environmental engineering study finally indicated that a magnesium and iron-based hydrotalcite-like compound (MF-HT), our original depurative, can maximally adsorb 9.0 mg/g Cr(VI) and 1041 mg/g Cr(III). Our results suggested the importance of removal of Cr(III) as well as Cr(VI) by showing that Cr(III), which is generally recognized as a chemical with low toxicity, synergistically promoted carcinogenicity of a low level of Cr(VI). Therefore, we propose the use of our original high-efficient and low-cost depurative as a countermeasure to address the worldwide problem of environmental Cr pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Stable isotopes are used in wide fields of application from natural tracers in biology, geology and archeology through studies of metabolic fluxes to their application as tracers in quantitative proteomics and structural biology. We review the use of stable isotopes of biogenic elements (H, C, N, O, S, Mg, Se) with the emphasis on hydrogen and its heavy isotope deuterium. We will discuss the limitations of enriching various compounds in stable isotopes when produced in living organisms. Finally, we overview methods for measuring stable isotopes, focusing on methods for detection in single cells in situ and their exploitation in modern biotechnologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In Arabidopsis, a central regulator of copper (Cu) homeostasis is the transcription factor SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like7 (SPL7). Under Cu deficiency, SPL7 induces the expression of miR398 , which suppresses the expression of the genes CSD1 and CSD2 , which encode cytosolic and chloroplastic isoforms of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, respectively. Consequently, the limited Cu is preferentially assigned to plastocyanin, which is essential for photosynthetic electron transport. Consistent with this function of miR398 related to photosynthesis, its expression is strongly induced in leaves. In this study, however, we showed that SPL7 was transcribed mainly around the vasculature in roots, where Cu levels were likely sensed. To test the possible long-distance signaling of Cu availability from roots to shoots, we conducted a series of grafting experiments using spl7 mutant and wild-type (WT) plants. Expression of Cu-responsive microRNAs and the resulting suppression of CSD1 and CSD2 mRNAs were observed in leaves only when the aerial part was from WT plants, in which a low level of SPL7 was transcribed also in the vascular tissues. Although local sensing of Cu was disturbed in the spl7 mutant, the Cu level was not affected in the shoots. SPL7 is expressed in specific cell layers in both roots and shoots and locally senses Cu availability, transmitting the information to surrounding cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins TRPM6 and TRPM7 are α-kinase-coupled divalent cation-selective channels activated upon a reduction of cytosolic levels of Mg 2+ and Mg·ATP. Emerging evidence indicate that one of the main physiological functions of TRPM6 and TRPM7 is maintaining of cellular metabolism of Mg 2+ and likely other essential metals such as Ca 2+ and Zn 2+ . Recent experiments with genetic animal models have shown that TRPM6 and TRPM7 are essential for epithelial Mg 2+ transport in the placenta and intestine. In addition, mutations in TRPM6 or TRPM7 have been linked to Mg 2+ deficiency in humans. However, many key functional aspects of these remarkable proteins as well as mechanisms of the associated channelopathies remain incompletely understood. The present review article highlights the recent significant progress in the field with the focus on the vital roles of TRPM7 and TRPM7 in mineral homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In the last decades, the extensive use of chromium in industrial activities has led to the discharge of different chromium species into the biosphere. The two stable chromium forms are Cr(III) and Cr(VI), which have dramatically different properties. While the first one is essential, the second is harmful and carcinogenic, even at very low concentration. Therefore, the appropriate analysis of chromium in environmental, biological, food and other kind of samples need a reliable separation and subsequent quantification of both Cr species. The present paper provides a critical review of chromium speciation methods in which solid phase extraction was employed as sample pretreatment using graphene and carbon nanotubes (and their diverse oxidized, functionalized and magnetic derivatives) as sorbents. The different published methods for the speciation of Cr(III), Cr(VI) or both species are described and classified on the basis of the separation strategy employed: (i) the selective retention of only one of the two species by the sorbent, (ii) the retention of a Cr-chelate formed by using a ligand selective for only one of the Cr-species, or (iii) the sorption of both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species. In addition, the distinct applied SPE modes (on-column, dispersive or magnetic) and their automation possibilities, the analytical techniques utilized for measurement of the Cr-species after separation, as well as the analytical figures of merit of the methods developed up to date are evaluated. Finally, the expected future trends of solid phase extraction for Cr speciation based on carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and their derivatives as sorbents are commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This comparative research represents an example for a better conservation of resources by reducing the amount of waste (kg) and providing it more value under the umbrella of remanufacturing. The three discussed cases will expose three issues already addressed separately in the literature. The generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) interacts with the environmental depletion. In this article, we gave the examples of addressed issues under the concept of remanufacturing. Online collection opportunity eliminating classical collection, a business to business (B2B) implementation for remanufactured servers and medical devices. The material reuse (recycling), component sustainability, reuse (part harvesting), product reuse (after repair/remanufacturing) indicates the recovery potential using remanufacturing tool for a better conservation of resources adding more value to the products. Our findings can provide an overview of new system organization for the general collection, market potential and the technological advantages using remanufacturing instead of recycling of WEEE or used electrical and electronic equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background For trace element measurement in human breast milk, an accurate high-throughput sample preparation method would be desirable. In this study, a quick alkali sample dilution method was systematically compared to the traditional acid digestion pretreatment for measuring 10 trace elements in 237 human breast milk samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Methods The alkali method involved dilution of the breast milk samples with a solution consisting of 2% butanol, 0.05% EDTA, 0.05% Triton X-100 and 1% NH 4 OH. The mixtures were sonicated, centrifuged and analyzed by ICP-MS. Acid digestion was performed in HNO 3 at 250 °C using a Milestone Ultra CLAVE II microwave digestion system. Results Overall, the alkali dilution method gave higher analytical precision compared to acid digestion while LODs and recoveries were similar between the two methods. Spearman's correlations between measured element concentrations by the two sample preparation methods were strong (r S > 0.70) for all elements, except for Ca and Cd (r S < 0.50). Passing-Bablok regression analyses showed best agreement between the two methods for Li, Mg, Fe, Zn, Se and Cd (slopes 0.8–1.2). Evaluation of Bland-Altman difference plots showed best method agreement (lowest bias) for Na, Mg, Ca, Zn and Cd. Highest difference in element concentration between the methods was observed for iodine (96 ng/g by alkali dilution and 33 ng/g by acid digestion), probably due to formation of volatile species such as HI and I 2 in the acid matrix. Conclusions The results indicate that the alkali dilution high-throughput sample preparation method is comparable to the more commonly used acid digestion method for ICP-MS measurements of some toxic and essential elements in human breast milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Nowadays, 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene – better known as BODIPY – is at the forefront of fluorophores for life sciences. Indeed, its high brightness, its tunable excitation and emission wavelengths along with its high chemical and photochemical stability draw more and more the interest of researchers. In the last decade, chemists have taken advantage of the versatility of the synthesis of BODIPY to design sophisticated objects. This review focuses on the different recent studies dealing with the conception of metal-based-BODIPY derivatives for medical purposes. More precisely, emphasis is put on the use of BODIPY derivatives for the elaboration of BODIPY-based theranostics, multimodal imaging probes, and photodynamic therapy sensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

DN604, a carboplatin analogue with a functional dicarboxylato ligand, was deeply investigated to explore its ability to induce apoptosis as well as its antitumor mechanism of action. Both in vitro and in vivo assays indicated that DN604 could effectively inhibit cell viability of SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells and exhibited stronger antitumor activity than carboplatin and comparable activity to cisplatin. Significantly in contrast to cisplatin, DN604 resulted in negligible toxic effects in vivo with the same tumor growth inhibition effect as cisplatin. The mechanism study indicated that DN604 inhibited CK2-phosphorylated cdc25C activation to decrease p-cdc25C subcellular localization, leading to the inactivation of cdc2/Cyclin B and G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cancer cells. Our research revealed for the first time that the dicarboxylato ligand containing a suitable functional moiety as the leaving group in the platinum(II) complex can effectively induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via inhibiting key checkpoint proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Major and trace elements may play a role in the diagnosis of diseases. In this study, we investigated the concentration of 26 major and trace elements in the serum by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) – optical emission spectrometry (OES) and ICP-sector field-mass spectrometry (sf-MS). We analyzed the serum from a discovery cohort of 6 bladder cancer (BCa) patients and 12 healthy controls as well as from a validation cohort of 21 BCa patients, 29 non-tumor bladder patients (with acute and chronic inflammation) and 18 healthy controls. Patients were recruited after written consent was obtained at one medical center. Serum was prepared from peripheral blood prior to surgical treatment. Differences in the levels of major and trace elements were determined by a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis statistics. In the discovery cohort, we measured significantly increased levels of calcium, mercury, potassium, lithium, nickel, phosphorus and strontium and a significantly decreased level of sodium in BCa patients compared with healthy controls. These findings were reassessed in our validation cohort. We measured significantly increased levels of boron, calcium, cadmium, copper, chromium, lead, lithium, potassium, magnesium, nickel, sulfur, strontium, titan, vanadium and zinc and significantly decreased levels of iron and molybdenum. When we studied the concordance for the discovery and validation cohorts, concentrations of five elements were detected as significantly increased in BCa patients compared with healthy controls: calcium, lithium, potassium, nickel, and strontium. Interestingly, the levels of three elements (calcium, potassium and strontium) were also significantly increased in non-tumor bladder patients compared with healthy controls. But no element was significantly altered between non-tumor bladder patients and BCa patients. In summary, we suggest that determination of the elements calcium, lithium, nickel and strontium in the serum could be a new and promising tool for the early diagnosis of BCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein (PTHrP) is involved in intracellular calcium (Ca) regulation, and has been demonstrated to participate in regulation of Ca in brain cells, activation of neurons, and modulation of pain. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the presence of PTHrP in CSF. Design and methods PTHrP and Ca were quantified in paired CSF and serum samples using mass spectrometry-based methods. Associations between PTHrP and Ca concentrations with age, sex and concentrations of nine CSF diagnostic markers in a set of 140 paired serum and CSF patient samples were evaluated. Results The observed median PTHrP concentration in CSF was 51 times higher than in serum; the median concentration of Ca in CSF was 1.8 times lower than in serum. We observed positive correlation between concentrations of PTHrP in CSF and serum (p = 0.013). Distribution of PTHrP concentrations in serum was associated with age (p = 0.0068) and the concentrations were higher in women. In samples with serum calcium concentrations within the reference intervals (n = 118), central 95% distribution of concentrations for Ca-CSF, PTHrP-serum and PTHrP-CSF were 5.4 (4.5–6.1) mg/dL, 1.2 (0.5–2.5) pmol/L, 62 (22–125) pmol/L, respectively. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that PTHrP is a normal constituent of human CSF with median concentrations 51 fold higher than in serum. Elevated serum PTHrP concentrations were positively correlated with age and significantly higher in women. Our data suggest that CSF could be a significant source of circulating PTHrP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Currently, environmental pollution by heavy metals is a global problem. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective detection techniques to determine the levels of heavy metal contamination in various mediums. Voltammetry is a highly sensitive electrochemical method used for the in situ detection of heavy metal ions. This study investigates the current trends related to electrode modification, developments in materials, and optimization of the experimental parameters. We discuss the sensing performance of four kinds of nanomaterials capable of inorganic modification (metal nanoparticles, metal oxides, carbonaceous nanomaterials, and their nanocomposites). The impact of several important factors, such as the deposition potential and time, buffer solution types, and pH on the sensitivity, reproducibility, stability, and anti-interference ability of the detection process, especially with regard to the co-detection of several heavy metal ions, was reviewed. We noted that in addition to the application of voltammetry to water-related issues, it is suitable for rapid and simple identification and analyses of heavy metals in polluted soil and other mediums. Thus, it is important to conduct additional research on the application of voltammetry to this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Many employees in the aluminum industry are exposed to a range of aluminum compounds by inhalation, and the presence of ultrafine particles in the workplace has become a concern to occupational health professionals. Some metal salts and metal oxides have been shown to enter the brain through the olfactory route, bypassing the blood-brain barrier, but few studies have examined whether aluminum compounds also use this pathway. In this context, we sought to determine whether aluminum was found in rat olfactory bulbs and whether its transfer depended on physicochemical characteristics such as solubility and granulometry. Aluminum salts (chloride and fluoride) and various nanometric aluminum oxides (13 nm, 20 nm and 40–50 nm) were administered to rats by intranasal instillation through one nostril (10 μg Al/30 μL for 10 days). Olfactory bulbs (ipsilateral and contralateral relative to instilled nostril) were harvested and the aluminum content was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after tissue mineralization. Some transfer of aluminum salts to the central nervous system via the olfactory route was observed, with the more soluble aluminum chloride being transferred at higher levels than aluminum fluoride. No cerebral translocation of any of the aluminas studied was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The present study explored the influence of Zn addition in the water on Zn transport and lipid metabolism of two intestinal regions in goby Synechogobius hasta. Zn contents in water were 0.004 (control), 0.181 and 0.361 mg Zn L −1 , respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days. TG and Zn contents, mRNA contents of genes of Zn transport and lipid metabolism, and enzyme activity from anterior and mid-intestine tissues were analyzed. In anterior intestine, Zn addition in the water increased Zn contents, and mRNA concentrations of ZIP4, ZIP5, ATGL, PPARα, ZNF202 and KLF7, decreased TG contents, 6PGD and G6PD activities, and mRNA contents of 6PGD, G6PD, FAS, PPARγ, ICDH and KLF4. In mid-intestine tissue, the highest Zn and TG contents were observed for 0.18 mg Zn/l group, in parallel with the highest expressions of ZnT1, ZIP4, ZIP5, 6PGD, FAS, ICDH, PPARγ, PPARα, ZNF202, KLF4 and KLF7, and with the highest FAS, 6PGD and G6PD activities. Thus, in the anterior intestine, Zn addition increased lipolysis and decreased lipogenesis, and accordingly reduced TG content. However, the highest mid-intestinal TG content in 0.18 mg Zn/l group was due to the up-regulated lipogenesis. Although lipolysis was also increased, the incremental lipid synthesis was enough to compensate for lipid degradation, which led TG accumulation. Our results, for the first time, show an anterior/mid functional regionalization of the intestine in lipid metabolism and Zn transport of S. hasta following Zn exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background East Liverpool, Ohio, the site of a hazardous waste incinerator and a manganese (Mn) processor, has had air Mn concentrations exceeding United States Environmental Protection Agency reference levels for over a decade. Save Our County, Inc., a community organization, was formed to address community environmental health concerns related to local industry. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati partnered with Save Our County to determine if air Mn had an impact on the neurocognitive function of children in the community. Methods Children 7–9 years of age from East Liverpool and its surrounding communities, were enrolled (N = 106) in the Communities Actively Researching Exposure Study from between March 2013–June 2014. Blood and hair were analyzed for Mn and lead, and serum was analyzed for cotinine. We used linear regression to assess associations between biological measures and IQ subscale scores. Results Geometric mean blood lead (n = 67), blood Mn (n = 66), hair Mn (n = 98), and serum cotinine (n = 69) concentrations were 1.13 ± 1.96 μg/dL, 10.06 ± 1.30 μg/L, and 360.22 ± 2.17 ng/g, 0.76 ± 6.12 μg/L respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, hair Mn was negatively associated with Full Scale IQ. Conclusions Hair Mn was negatively associated with child IQ scores. Community partners were instrumental in the conception and implementation of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In first part of the paper a review is given on fractionation methodologies by sequential extraction methodologies applied for risk assessment of environmental pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTE). Main sources of PTE release are the mining-, industrial-, agri-food production-, traffic- and communal-waste. In this latter the medical and health care sources may emerge due to therapeutic and diagnostic applications (Ag, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Cd, Ga, Gd, 131 I, Ir, Li, Mn, Fe, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Sb, Sn, Ti, V), to nanomedicines, to ayurvedic herbal medicines with possible contaminant PTEs and non-controlled dietary supplements. The magnitude of adverse effects caused by PTEs in the soil-water-sediment system depends on the various chemical species that can arise. Long-term biological impacts are strongly influenced by mobilization-immobilization processes in the aquatic environment. These can be studied through sequential extraction procedures modelling their pathways. In Europe the simplified extraction scheme proposed by BCR in 1993 and modified in 2001 is mostly used for this purpose. By this approach samples are gradually decomposed and four different fractions of PTEs can be identified, i.e.: i ) water-soluble and carbonate-bound fraction; ii ) fraction associated with reducible Fe- and Mn-oxides; iii ) organic complexed fraction and sulphides; iv ) fraction soluble in oxidative acids. The sediment-based Certified Reference Material (CRM) BCR 701 was produced to check the accuracy of the fractionation procedure. The standardization process was hindered by methodological problems, i.e.: i ) the solvents used in the BCR system do not mirror completely the natural mobilization processes and partly modify the original chemical species; ii ) the time demand of the batch leaching extraction steps is exceedingly long (4–5 days); iii ) the above CRM, certified for the fractionation of Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn, is available only for sediment and cannot be applied to other environmental matrices and other PTEs. The studies aimed at improving the BCR methodology are summarized, in particular to: i ) develop continuous flow systems; ii ) accelerate the BCR leaching steps by sonication; iii ) extend the BCR procedure to other environmental matrices (soils, red mud, composts, biofilms) and further PTEs by multielemental (ICP-OES) detection. In second part of the paper a case study is presented for evaluation of long-term changes of the environmental mobility of PTE contaminations in the fish pond system of Gödöllő town. For vertical and horizontal mapping of PTE content of accumulated sediment layers core samples were taken in 1994, 1995 and 2013. In the sediment layers total soluble PTE content was related to the BCR fractionation. The Chernobyl origine radionuclides were detected by γ-spectroscopy. The BCR sequential extraction procedure for tracking the long-term fate of PTE contamination of different origine in surface water/sediment/systems showed a much potential. By repetition of fractionation of PTEs after 20 years clearly reflects the change of PTE concentrations in different fractions. The decrease of PTE concentrations can be explained by leaching the most mobile fractions by water exchange over the sediment and/or by remediation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Fermentation–pervaporation–catalysis (FPC) integration process was employed to produce bio-butadiene using sweet sorghum juice as feedstock. After in situ ethanol removal from fermentation broth, permeate of pervaporation membrane (478.6 g/L bio-ethanol) was directly converted into butadiene by an Ag/Mg–Si catalyst. A butadiene yield of 64.1% with a butadiene selectivity of 75.8% was achieved within 6 h of operation. The integration process showed a great potential on high final product yield in a long-term operation. Following this protocol, about 16 g of bio-butadiene was produced from 1 kg sweet sorghum stalk. The integration process showed a potential in further application for bio-butadiene and materials production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Natural biotoxins and anthropogenic toxicants pose a significant risk to sea turtle health. Documented effects of contaminants include potential disease progression and adverse impacts on development, immune function, and survival in these imperiled species. The shallow seagrass habitats of Florida's northwest coast (Big Bend) serve as an important developmental habitat for Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii ) and green ( Chelonia mydas ) sea turtles; however, few studies have been conducted in this area. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate plasma analytes (mass, minimum straight carapace length, body condition index [BCI], fibropapilloma tumor score, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, plasma protein electrophoresis, cholesterol, and total solids) in Kemp's ridleys and green turtles and their correlation to brevetoxins that were released from a red tide bloom event from July–October 2014 in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Big Bend, and (2) to analyze red blood cells in Kemp's ridleys and green turtles for toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, thallium) with correlation to the measured plasma analytes. Positive correlations were observed between brevetoxins and α 2 -globulins in Kemp's ridleys and α 2 - and γ-globulins in green turtles, indicating potential immunostimulation. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead positively correlated with superoxide dismutase in Kemp's ridleys, suggesting oxidative stress. Lead and mercury in green turtles negatively correlated with BCI, while mercury positively correlated with total tumor score of green turtles afflicted with fibropapillomatosis, suggesting a possible association with mercury and increased tumor growth. The total tumor score of green turtles positively correlated with total protein, total globulins, α 2 -globulins, and γ-globulins, further suggesting inflammation and immunomodulation as a result of fibropapillomatosis. Lastly, brevetoxin concentrations were positively related to tumor score, indicating potential tumor promotion by brevetoxin. These results signify that brevetoxins and toxic elements elicit various negative effects on sea turtle health, including immune function, oxidative stress, and possibly disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Aims Chelation therapy and antioxidant supplements have been demonstrated to be useful in ameliorating aluminum (Al) induced neurotoxicity. Oleracein E (OE) is a phenolic antioxidant alkaloid which possesses a rare tetrahydroisoquinoline/pyrrolidone tricyclic skeleton and a catechol moiety. The aim of this study was to investigate whether OE can chelate with Al and alleviate AlCl 3 -induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Main methods Kunming mice were administered AlCl 3 (40 mg/kg/d, i.p., 28 days), with co-administration of OE (3 mg/kg/d, 15 mg/kg/d, i.g.) and the positive control piracetam (PA, 400 mg/kg/d, i.g.). The Al contents in the brain and plasma were determined using ICP-MS. Al chelating ability of OE was assayed using UV spectroscopy. MDA, GSH, SOD or CAT, in the brain or plasma were determined. HE staining was used to examine hippocampal morphology alterations. IHC staining was employed to measure the expression of apoptotic-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3. Key findings AlCl 3 remarkably increased the brain and plasma Al contents, increased lipid peroxidation and induced hippocampal neuronal damage. OE chelated with Al to form a stable complex. An increase in brain Al content by OE (15 mg/kg) likely occurred through chelating with Al, which reduced the toxicity of free Al ion in the brain. OE significantly decreased MDA by regulating some antioxidant biomarkers. Furthermore, OE significantly ameliorated the protein expression changes in some apoptotic indices induced by AlCl 3 . Significance The phenolic alkaloid OE, as an antioxidant, Al chelator and apoptosis inhibitor, alleviates oxidative stress and neurotoxicity induced by AlCl 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copper nanoparticles have been explored as a new class of heterogeneous catalyst in various chemical transformations. This review surveys the most useful organic transformations which were carried out in the presence of copper nanoparticles as catalyst. Copper nanoparticle catalyzed reactions are advantageous over the conventional metal catalyzed reactions in terms of low catalyst loading, high atom economy, better yields, inexpensive, shorter reaction times and recyclability of the catalyst. From a mechanistic point of view, it has been shown that most of the transformations proceed via the formation of organometallic intermediates [C-Cu-X] during the interactions with copper nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The continued use of platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs in the clinic mandates the need for further investigation of the biological activity of structural analogues of the clinically approved complexes. Of interest are monofunctional platinum(II) complexes, which bear only one labile ligand, for which it is believed that each complex binds to DNA only once. Pyriplatin ([PtCl(NH 3 ) 2 (py)] + ) and enpyriplatin ([PtCl(en)(py)] + ) are both monofunctional platinum(II) complexes that bear a pyridine ligand and a labile chlorido ligand, differing in their cis ‑ammine and ethane-1,2-diamine (en) ligands respectively. Despite their similar structure, the complexes exhibit dramatically different cytotoxicities. In this study, we synthesized and characterized both complexes in terms of their cytotoxicity, lipophilicity, DNA binding and cellular accumulation. There was no significant difference between the lipophilicities of the complexes and both complexes exhibited monofunctional type binding, but it was the temporal accumulation profiles of the two complexes which differed greatly. The complexes were further analyzed with size exclusion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) to determine the platination state of the proteins. Consistent with the accumulation studies, pyriplatin bound to proteins in far greater amounts than enpyriplatin, and this study also revealed some different protein targets between the bifunctional cisplatin and monofunctional pyriplatin. This study highlights the need for more sophisticated techniques, such as SEC-ICP-MS, to determine not only how much of a platinum complex accumulates in cells, but also the speciation and metabolites of platinum anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) method is a sample pretreatment technique that uses small volumes of organic solvents to extract a wide variety of analytes from different matrices prior to instrumental analysis. The development of these techniques focuses on providing simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly extraction procedures for sample preparation or pretreatment. In this review, the most recent developments in LPME techniques for the analysis of various environmental pollutants are summarized after being categorized into several groups such as dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME), ferrofluid-based microextraction, supramolecular-based liquid phase microextraction, and vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction. Moreover, the extraction principles, the solvent production mechanism, and the historical development of the LPME techniques are also discussed. Finally, recent reports on the applications of these methodologies are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Shells fired during World War I exhibited different explosive compounds and some of these weapons also contained a wide variety of chemical warfare agents. At the end of the war, for safety purposes, the large quantity of weapons remaining on the former front needed to be dismantled and destroyed. A large amount of the remaining shells was destroyed in specific sites which led to the contamination of the surroundings in Belgium and France. In the 1920s, 1.5 million chemical shells and 30,000 explosive shells were destroyed in a place close to the city of Verdun, in the East of France. In this paper, the risk for human health related to the consumption of foodstuffs produced on this site was assessed. To this end, food products of plant and animal origin were sampled in 2015–2016 and contaminant analyses were conducted. Human exposure was assessed using a specifically built methodology. The contaminants considered in this study were trace elements (TEs - primarily Zn, As, Pb and Cd), nitroaromatic explosives (trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-dinitroluene and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene), phenylarsenic compounds including diphenylarsinic acid and triphenylarsine, perchlorate, tetrabromoethane and vinyl bromide. Depending on the compound, different approaches were used to assess the risk for both adults and children. Exposure to these contaminants through the consumption of foodstuffs produced locally on the considered site was unlikely to be a health concern. However, as for inorganic arsenic, given the presence of highly contaminated zones, it was suggested that cereals should not be grown on certain plots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The widely used engineered nanoparticles have presented non-negligible immunotoxicity and specific patterns of inflammatory-activating behaviors, which remain to be revealed in a more systematic way. In this work, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with 3 different diameters were prepared, and then were further modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or chicken ovalbumin (OVA) to achieve different surface properties. Both types of GNPs had sizes of 12, 35, and 60 nm and possessed negatively charged surface, showing good colloidal stability in cell culture medium, respectively. The conjugated amount of OVA was around 110 ng/mm 2 regardless of the particle size. All the particles showed neglectable influence on viability of RAW246.7 macrophages when cocultured in vitro . The GNPs of larger size or conjugated with OVA were internalized with significantly larger amount. While the OVA-coated GNPs induced higher secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β, the PEG coating did not induce significant inflammatory response especially when the size of NPs was larger than 35 nm. Comparatively, smaller GNPs induced stronger inflammatory responses regardless of their surface-conjugated molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, thallium) are a group of contaminants that are known to elicit developmental, reproductive, general health, and immune system effects in reptiles, even at low concentrations. Reptiles, including marine turtles, are susceptible to accumulation of toxic elements due to their long life span, low metabolic rate, and highly efficient conversion of prey into biomass. The objectives of this study were to (1) document concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and thallium in whole blood and keratin from nesting loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta ) from Casey Key, Florida and document correlations thereof and (2) correlate whole blood toxic element concentrations to various hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes. Baselines for various hematological and plasma analytes and toxic elements in whole blood and keratin ( i.e. , scute) in nesting loggerheads are documented. Various correlations between the toxic elements and hematological and plasma biochemistry analytes were identified; however, the most intriguing were negative correlations between arsenic, cadmium, lead, and selenium with and α- and γ-globulins. Although various extrinsic and intrinsic variables such as dietary and feeding changes in nesting loggerheads need to be considered, this finding may suggest a link to altered humoral immunity. This study documents a suite of health variables of nesting loggerheads in correlation to contaminants and identifies the potential of toxic elements to impact the overall health of nesting turtles, thus presenting important implications for the conservation and management of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary tumor of the central nervous system with a poor prognosis, needing the development of new therapeutic drugs. Few studies focused on sodium selenite (SS) effects in cancer cells cultured as multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS or 3D) closer to in vivo tumor. We investigated SS anticancer effects in three human GBM cell lines cultured in 3D: LN229, U87 (O(6)-methyguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) negative) and T98G (MGMT positive). SS absorption was evaluated and the cytotoxicity of SS and temozolomide (TMZ), the standard drug used against GBM, were compared. SS impacts on proliferation, cell death, and invasiveness were evaluated as well as epigenetic modifications by focusing on histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and dimethyl-histone-3-lysine-9 methylation (H3K9m2), after 24 h to 72 h SS exposition. SS was absorbed by spheroids and was more cytotoxic than TMZ (i.e., for LN229, the IC50 was 38 fold-more elevated for TMZ than SS, at 72 h). SS induced a cell cycle arrest in the S phase and apoptosis via caspase-3. SS decreased carbonic anhydrase-9 (CA9) expression, invasion on a Matrigel matrix and modulated E- and N-Cadherin transcript expressions. SS decreased HDAC activity and modulated H3K9m2 levels. 3D model provides a relevant strategy to screen new drugs and SS is a promising drug against GBM that should now be tested in GBM animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The paper deals with the so far most efficient antidiabetic transition metal compound family. It focuses on the species distribution of the most frequently studied vanadium(IV,V) compounds in biology: in the gastro-intestinal tract (being important in absorption of the compounds), the blood serum (very likely the main route of their transport), the whole blood (recently the role of the red blood cells are also assumed in their transport) and in the cells (where glutathione and ATP may be the most important redox and complex formation partners of the original vanadium-“insulinomimetics”). The discussed details fit into the general view, but far from a complete and clear understanding of the pharmacodynamics of these antidiabetics. A lot more in vitro and mostly in vivo studies are necessary to justify their real clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...