Lead Exposure Research Articles

Physical activity modified the association of blood cadmium and lead with Helicobacter pylori infection: A cross-sectional analysis with NHANES data.

Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) exposure have been identified as risk factors for Helicobacter pylori seropositivity, possibly due to the immune suppression by Cd and Pb. Physical activity (PA) can induce an immune response. However, whether PA can reduce the effect of Cd and Pb on H pylori infection remains elusive. This study aims to investigate the association of blood Cd and Pb levels with H pylori infection and explore the intermediary effects of PA. This cross-sectional survey was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the 1999 to 2000 cycle (n = 9965). Participants without clear serological testing data, or absent in PA, blood Cd, and Pb information were excluded. Collinearity analysis was performed to remove the variables with high collinearity. Restricted cubic spline curve analysis was adopted to assess the nonlinear association of Cd and Pb with H pylori infection. The logistic regression analysis, generalized linear models, sensitivity analysis, and P for trend test were used to further analyze their relationship. Then, we analyzed the association of Cd and Pb with H pylori infection in 2 PA groups. Totally 3638 participants were divided into H pylori-negative (n = 2545) and H pylori-positive group (n = 1093). Pb exhibited a linear relationship but Cd had a nonlinear relationship with H pylori infection. Besides, the elevation of Cd and Pb both independently predicted H pylori infection after adjusting various variables (P < .05). The robust relationship was confirmed by the P for trend test (P for trend < .05). Under Cd exposure, the risk of H pylori infection was lower in the active PA group than in the inactive group (P < .05). A reverse result was found under the Pb exposure (P < .05). Exposure to Cd and Pb are positively linked to H pylori infection. PA may alleviate the effect of Cd on H pylori infection but may enhance H pylori infection under Pb exposure. Therefore, PA should be recommended in the appropriate season or region.

Impact of occupational lead exposure on the comprehensive health status of gas cutter workers

BackgroundOccupational exposure to hazardous substances, particularly in involving metal cutting and welding industries, poses critical public health concern. This study assesses the health status of gas cutter workers, focusing on Pb exposure. MethodIn this cross-sectional study, 40 participants with BLL ≥20 μg/dL were recruited from workers engaged in oxy-acetylene metal cutting. These workers were compared to an age-, sex-, and sociodemographic-matched control group (n = 42) from the same workplace. Health assessments including routine clinical and laboratory investigations along with BLL, and markers of calcium homeostasis were carried out. ResultsGas cutters exhibited significantly higher mean systolic BP and elevated SGOT levels, with similar prevalence of respiratory symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders in both groups. No significant differences were found in most hematological, liver, and renal parameters. However, gas cutters had significantly higher PTH levels and lower serum vitamin D levels. Pulmonary function tests indicated significantly reduced FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25-75 %, and PEFR in gas cutters, as well as markedly higher CRP levels. ConclusionGas cutters experience significant health impacts compared to controls, including elevated systolic BP, impaired pulmonary function, and disturbance in calcium homeostasis due to occupational Pb exposure. Higher CRP levels suggest notable inflammatory responses. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and regular monitoring to mitigate health risks associated with Pb exposure among gas cutter workers.

The Assessment of Anthropometric Measures and Changes in Selected Biochemical Parameters in Obese Children in Relation to Blood Lead Level.

Our paper draws attention to the impact of lead (Pb) on the specificity of obesity development in children exposed to environmental pollution. An advantage of this paper is the homogeneous study group comprising children of identical age from a single geographic region. Moreover, while the influence of environmental toxins on adults has been extensively explored, this study delves into pediatric populations, which have yet to receive comprehensive scrutiny within the scientific literature. Initially, a group of 136 obese children (the research program lasted three consecutive years: 2016, 2017, and 2018) living in the north-western region of Poland, from whom biochemical tests and auxological data were obtained, were enrolled for analysis. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were determined in 115 children. The age of the children ranged from 7.1 to 10.4 years. The body mass index (BMI) of children averaged 21.5 ± 2.2. The results showed that a large proportion of the participants had BLLs above the threshold for Pb. BLLs ≤ 5 µg/dL (considered safe for children and pregnant women) were found in over 70% of the participants, with BLLs in the range of 5.01-10.00 µg/dL in over 26% of the children, and concentrations > 10 µg/dL (considered toxic threshold for adults) in nearly 2% of the children. The results of our research revealed a positive association between BLLs and average systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the studied children. Moreover, we found a negative correlation between BLLs and absolute fat tissue content and triglyceride concentration. Among the included biochemical factors, only insulin demonstrated a statistically significant relationship with fat mass. This result suggests that early carbohydrate metabolism disorders in overweight children involve decreased peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity. Lead exposure may significantly contribute to the development of hypertension, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism disorders in overweight and obese children. It is essential to implement multidirectional actions to increase awareness of the harmful effects of xenobiotic exposure, including lead, in order to prevent early-life exposure.

Health risk assessment of lead and cadmium exposure from food and snuff in Pakistani population

BackgroundSmokeless tobacco (SLT) is a tobacco-based product consumed without burning or smoking. Snuff, commonly known as naswar, is a widely used SLT product in Pakistan. This study is designed to investigate the concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in snuff and their associated health risks to consumers. MethodsBlood samples from snuff consumers and non-consumers were analyzed for Pb and Cd concentrations. Additionally, samples of drinking water and wheat flour were also analyzed for Pb and Cd. Health risk assessments were calculated using hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for Pb and Cd. ResultsSnuff consumers had significantly higher blood-Pb and blood-Cd levels compared to non-consumers. Approximately 38.5 % of snuff consumers were found to exceed blood-Pb levels from the safe limits (10 µg dL⁻¹) of the World Health Organization (WHO), while 48.9 % of snuff consumers were found to exceed blood-Cd levels from the WHO safe range of 0.03–0.12 µg dL⁻¹. Snuff samples contained Pb and Cd concentrations ranging from 5.3 to 22.4 µg g⁻¹ and 0.5–2.2 µg g⁻¹, respectively. Drinking water and wheat flour samples were found within the safe limits for Pb and Cd concentration, suggesting snuff as the primary source of exposure. Health risk assessments indicated elevated HQ values, for Pb (38.9 %) and Cd (14.3 %) detected in snuff, surpassing the safe HQ threshold of 1. Concerning ILCR from snuff, values for Pb were within the acceptable range, but alarmingly 100 % of samples for Cd exceeded the safe limits of USEPA (1.0×10⁻⁴), indicating a significant cancer risk in snuff users. ConclusionThis study highlights the exceeded Pb and Cd concentrations in snuff as well as also reporting significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks to consumers. These findings emphasized the urgent need for regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of snuff before selling in the market. Public Health Professionals should also initiate educational campaigns to raise awareness among consumers and manufacturers about various health risks associated with the snuff.

Toxic Metals Impact Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Risk in Five African-Origin Populations.

Exposure to toxic metals impacts obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) risk. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Gut microbiota has been strongly associated with progression of cardiometabolic risk. To determine whether high metal exposures and gut dysbiosis interact to promote metabolic dysregulation and cardiometabolic risk, we assessed relationships between these factors. We analyzed cross-sectional associations between arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, and cardiometabolic health markers in 178 randomly selected African-origin adults (52% female, 51% obese, mean age=43.0±6.4 years) from Ghana, South Africa, Seychelles, Jamaica, and USA. Metal levels were dichotomized to high or low at the median level of each metal. We analyzed associations between gut microbiome taxa, metal levels, clinical measures (BMI, fasting blood glucose, and blood pressure) and diagnoses (hypertension, obesity, and diabetes status). High vs. low lead and arsenic exposures had a significant effect on beta diversity (p <0.05). 71 taxa were associated with high lead levels: 30 with elevated BMI, 22 with T2DM, and 23 with elevated fasting blood glucose (p<0.05). 115 taxa were associated with high arsenic levels: 32 with elevated BMI, 33 with T2DM, and 26 with elevated blood glucose (p<0.05). Of the taxa associated with high lead and arsenic exposure and either elevated BMI or fasting blood glucose, porphyrin metabolism was the most enriched metabolic pathway. These data collectively provide the first findings in a human study that the gut microbiome may drive the association between lead and arsenic exposure and obesity and T2DM risk.

Analysis of Differential Gene Expression under Acute Lead or Mercury Exposure in Larval Zebrafish Using RNA-Seq.

This study was first conducted to investigate the effects of acute lead exposure on developing zebrafish embryos or larvae from 24 to 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). Our data showed that treatment with 50-200 μM lead significantly affected larval survivability and morphology compared to the respective control. Second, we chose 120 hpf larvae treated with 12.5 μM lead for RNA sequencing due to its exposure level being sufficient to produce toxic effects with minimum death and lead bioaccumulation in developing zebrafish. A total of 137.45 million raw reads were obtained, and more than 86% of clean data were mapped to the zebrafish reference genome. Differential expression profiles generated 116 up- and 34 down-regulated genes upon lead exposure. The most enriched GO terms for representative DEGs were ion transport and lipid metabolism. Third, a comparison with the dataset of mercury-regulated gene expression identified 94 genes (64 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated) for exposure specific to lead, as well as 422 genes (338 up-regulated and 84 down-regulated) for exposure specific to mercury. In addition, 56 genes were co-regulated by micromolar mercury and lead treatment, and the expression of thirteen genes, including mt2, ctssb.1, prdx1, txn, sqrdl, tmprss13a, socs3a, trpv6, abcb6a, gsr, hbz, fads2, and zgc:92590 were validated by qRT-PCR. These genes were mainly associated with metal ion binding, proteolysis, antioxidant activity, signal transduction, calcium ion or oxygen transport, the fatty acid biosynthetic process, and protein metabolism. Taken together, these findings help better understand the genome-wide responses of developing zebrafish to lead or mercury and provide potential biomarkers for acute exposure to toxic metals.

A New Plant Active Polysaccharide from Nicotiana Improves the Lead-Led Impairment of Spatial Memory in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and IL-6.

Active polysaccharides from plants are broadly applied in the food and health industry. The purpose of this study is to identify a new plant active polysaccharide and to investigate its role in modulating spatial memory. Ultrasonics and DEAE-52 chromatography were used to separate and purify the plant active polysaccharide (PAP). Mice were exposed to 100 ppm of lead acetate from birth to 7 weeks old to establish the memory impairment model. PAPs with concentrations of 200 or 400 ppm were fed to the subject mice each day after weaning in a spatiotemporally separated fashion. At the end of the intervention, mice were examined using the Morris water maze test, microbiome sequencing, cytokine profiling and protein analysis. The derived active polysaccharide was constituted by β-anomeric carbon, indicating a new form of PAP. The PAP significantly ameliorates the memory impairment caused by postnatal lead exposure, as evidenced by the preferred coverage of the test mouse in the hidden platform, demonstrating salient neuroregulatory activity. In terms of the gut microbiome in response to PAP treatment, it was found that the 400 ppm PAP reversed the gut dysbiosis, producing a comparable structure to the intact animals, represented by the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Muribaculum, Desulfovibrio, etc. For cytokines, the PAP reversed the plasma levels of IL-6, suggesting an anti-inflammatory trend in the context of proinflammation caused by lead invasion. By injecting an IL-6 antagonist, Tocilizumab, into the deficient mice, the spatial memory was significantly repaired, which demonstrates the central roles of IL-6 in mediating the positive effect of the PAP. Finally, a histone modification mark, H3K27me3, was found to be potent in responding to the signals conveyed by the PAP. The PAP could improve the memory deficits by remodeling the gut-brain axis centered at the microbiota and IL-6, which is regarded as an important cytokine-modulating brain activity. This is an intriguing instance linking neuromodulation with the active polysaccharide, shedding light on the innovative applications of plant polysaccharides due to the scarcity of similar phenotypic connections.

Association of urinary and blood lead concentrations with all-cause mortality in US adults with chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study.

Epidemiological evidence on the relationship between lead exposure and mortality in specific chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations is limited. We aimed to examine the relationship between urinary lead and blood lead concentrations and all-cause mortality in US patients with CKD. This cohort study included 2320 participants with CKD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018), with follow-up until December 31, 2019. All-cause mortality was ascertained by matching US National Death Index records. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for urinary lead and blood lead concentrations in relation to all-cause mortality were estimated using a weighted Cox regression model. During a median follow-up period of 79months, a total of 625 participants with CKD succumbed to mortality. Compared to the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of urine and blood lead concentrations was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, with HRs and corresponding 95% CIs of 1.77 (1.05-2.99) and 2.65 (1.38-5.10), respectively. Furthermore, each additional unit increase in urinary and blood lead concentrations was associated with HRs for all-cause mortality of 1.21 (95% CI 1.06-1.38) and 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.19), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and restricted cubic regression spline curve analysis demonstrated significant positive associations between elevated blood lead levels, elevated urinary lead levels, and all-cause mortality risk (P < 0.05). A nonlinear concentration-response relationship was observed between blood lead level and all-cause mortality risk (PNonlinear < 0.05), with an inflection point at a concentration of 1.613µg/dL. Subgroup analysis as well as sensitivity analysis yielded consistent findings. Our findings demonstrate that elevated levels of lead in urine and blood are associated with a significantly increased mortality risk among patients with CKD, underscoring the importance of reducing lead exposure to mitigate mortality risk in individuals at high risk for CKD.

Toxic Metal Injustice? Socioeconomic status at birth and exposure to airborne pollution

We combine administrative data on socioeconomic status (SES) with high-resolution data on residential locations, local pollution levels, industrial facilities, as well as land cover information to investigate whether exposure to airborne toxic metals (arsenic, lead, and mercury) is unequally distributed within the population of newborn children in Sweden. We find that the spatial distribution of SES among newborns weakly correlates with the distribution of toxic metals at the national level and in the largest cities, indicating negligible sorting in this dimension. If anything, high SES children are disproportionately more exposed, residing in urban areas with higher levels of traffic and industrial activities. This leads us to conclude that environmental injustice regarding airborne arsenic, lead, and mercury exposure is not a major concern in Sweden.

Perspectives on Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention: Looking Back and Looking Ahead.

Lead's neurotoxic properties and potential harmful effects to humans, particularly young children, have been recognized for decades, influencing public health policies to reduce its admixture in house paint and passenger car gasoline. We signal 3 emergent trends: firearm proliferation, complex international food supply chains, and equally complex product marketing strategies, which have opened opportunities for lead exposure to children from guns and ammunition, and lead contamination in children's food and consumer goods. Readers will also be apprised of Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and education strategies cultivated and advanced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its lead prevention partners. A national governmental policy update is included, as are future considerations.

Combined Exposure to Folate and Lead during Pregnancy and Autistic-Like Behaviors among Canadian Children from the MIREC Pregnancy and Birth Cohort.

Folic acid (FA) supplementation may attenuate the associations between gestational exposure to certain chemicals and autism or autistic-like behaviors, but to our knowledge, this has not been assessed for lead. We examined whether the relationship between gestational blood-lead levels (BLLs) and autistic-like behaviors was modified by gestational plasma total folate concentrations, FA supplementation, and maternal methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T genotype. We used data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study (2008-2011), a Canadian pregnancy and birth cohort study. Childhood autistic-like behaviors were documented in 601 children 3-4 y of age with the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), where higher scores denote more autistic-like behaviors. We measured BLLs and plasma total folate concentrations during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. We also estimated gestational FA supplementation via surveys and genotyped the maternal MTHFR 677C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). We estimated the confounder-adjusted associations between -transformed BLLs and SRS-2 scores by two indicators of folate exposure and maternal MTHFR 677C>T genotype using linear regression. Third-trimester BLLs were associated with increased SRS-2 scores [; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 5.5] among participants with low ( percentile), third-trimester, plasma total folate concentrations, but BLL-SRS-2 associations were null (; 95% CI: , 0.5) among those in the middle category ( and percentiles) (p-interaction ). FA supplementation also attenuated these associations. Both folate indicators modified first-trimester BLL-SRS-2 associations, but to a lesser extent. Third-trimester BLL-SRS-2 associations were slightly stronger among participants who were homozygous for the T (minor) allele of the MTHFR 677C>T SNP (; 95% CI: , 3.1) than those without the T allele (; 95% CI: , 0.7), but the difference was not statistically significant (). Folate may modify the associations between gestational lead exposure and childhood autistic-like behaviors, suggesting that it mitigates the neurotoxic effects of prenatal lead exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14479.

Low-Level, Early Life Lead Exposure and School Behavior.

To measure how early childhood exposure to lead affects school behavior from third to eighth grade, measured by the number and days of total school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions (OSS). We estimate Poisson models using a cohort of 284 701 students with school records from 2006-2008 in North Carolina. We adjust for demographic and socioeconomic variables and school-grade-year cohort effects, and use coarsened exact matching to ensure similar characteristics across children with blood lead levels (BLLs) 2-10 μg/dL and children in the reference group with BLLs ≤1 μg/dL. BLLs ≥3 µg/dL are positively and significantly associated with all school suspension measures for sixth through eighth graders. The estimated effects on OSS for sixth through eighth graders are larger than the effects on total suspensions. For example, students with BLL = 3 µg/dL receive OSS 16% (95% confidence interval 3.6%-30%) more often and for 22% (95% confidence interval 7.3%-33%) more days than students with BLL ≤1 µg/dL. For third through fifth grade students, we only find a significant effect of lead exposure on suspensions at relatively high BLLs of 8-10 µg/dL. Our analysis demonstrates that BLL has significant adverse effects on third through eighth grade students' behavior, including at levels below the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's blood lead reference value of 3.5 μg/dL. We find that the adverse effects of lead are most strongly associated with more severe disruptive behavior in sixth through eighth graders, as measured by OSS. Our results underscore the long-term benefits of preventing early childhood exposure to lead.

Effects of Blood Lead Levels

Lead exposures among school-age children are a major public health issue. Although the harmful effects of lead exposure during the first years of life are well known, there is not as much understanding of the effects of low levels of lead exposure during later childhood. To review the effects of blood lead levels (BLLs) <10 µg/dL in school-age children and adolescents. We searched Medline, Embase, Global health, CINAHL, Scopus, and Environmental Science Collection databases between January 1, 2000, and May 11, 2023. We included peer-reviewed English-language articles that presented data on the effects of BLLs <10 µg/dL in individuals ages 5 through 18 years. Data on country, population, analytic design, sample size, age, BLLs, outcomes, covariates, and results were extracted. Overall, 115 of 3180 screened articles met the inclusion criteria. The reported mean or median BLL was <5 µg/dL in 98 articles (85%). Of the included articles, 89 (77%) presented some evidence of an association between BLLs <10 µg/dL during school age and detrimental outcomes in a wide range of categories. The strongest evidence of an association was for the outcomes of intelligence quotient and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnoses or behaviors. Few articles controlled for BLLs at age <5 years, limiting conclusions about the relation between later BLLs and outcomes. BLLs <10 µg/dL in school-age children and adolescents may be associated with negative outcomes. This review highlights areas that could benefit from additional investigation.

Sickle Cell Disease and Lead Poisoning in New York City, 2005-2019.

Previous analyses of New York City (NYC) health department's lead registry indicated that, among children with lead poisoning, an increased prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) exists. However, SCD is not considered a risk factor for lead poisoning. We assessed the association between SCD and childhood lead poisoning to determine if specific lead poisoning prevention efforts are needed for children with SCD. We analyzed NYC's lead registry data for children with venous blood lead levels (BLLs) ≥15 mcg/dL during 2005 to 2019. t tests and χ2 tests were performed to compare demographic characteristics, BLLs, and lead exposure risks in non-Hispanic Black children with and without SCD. A t test was used to compare observed SCD prevalence among Black children with BLLs ≥15 mcg/dL with an estimated 0.43% SCD prevalence among Black NYC children. Among 1728 Black children with BLLs ≥15 mcg/dL identified, 37 (2.14%) had SCD. When comparing children with and without SCD, both mean age at peak BLL (62.8 versus 42.7 months; P = .003) and peak BLL (42.59 versus 23.06 mcg/dL; P = .008) were higher for children with SCD. Among risk factors for lead exposure, children with SCD had higher prevalence of pica. Observed SCD prevalence was 1.71% higher than estimated SCD prevalence among Black NYC children (P < .001). We found a potential association between SCD and childhood lead poisoning. Pica emerged as a potentially important risk factor. Our findings might have implications for lead poisoning prevention guidelines for children with SCD.

Recently Recalled Children's Products Due to Lead Hazards.

We reviewed recent reports of recalled children's products contaminated with lead to learn more about what could be done to inform public health partners about the recalls in a timely manner to assist with broader consumer notification for proactive lead poisoning prevention efforts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff reviewed lead-related recall notices for children's products issued during June 2022 through April 2024. Recall notices were extracted from the Consumer Product Safety Commission using Really Simple Syndication feed technology to identify and capture the most current recall information. Specific product details in the database were extracted and analyzed descriptively to identify response trends and best practices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's automated tool identified 30 recalls from Consumer Product Safety Commission. Lead-contaminated toys were the most frequent type of product recalled (n = 11, 37%). Most products were manufactured in China (n = 24, 86%). Products were on the market for an average of 25 months before they were recalled. No injuries were reported. The 30 recalls resulted in a combined number of 914 598 recalled units sold. The current approach to protecting children from lead hazards in consumer products could be augmented by timely notifying the public health community about recalls so they can broadly disseminate information through their channels to reduce lead exposure in children. Additional steps to reduce lead contamination in children's products when sourcing raw materials and components may help to decrease the number of recalls.

Traditional Eye Cosmetics and Cultural Powders as a Source of Lead Exposure.

We aimed to describe the characteristics of traditional eye cosmetics and cultural powders, including the types, lead concentrations, origin, and regional variation in product names, and assess the differences in blood lead levels (BLLs) between product users and non-users. We analyzed 220 samples of traditional eye cosmetics and cultural powders collected in New York City between 2013 and 2022 during lead poisoning investigations and store surveys. We compared the BLLs of children who used these products with those of non-users. Lead levels in traditional eye cosmetics surma and kohl were much higher than levels in kajal and other cultural powders. Although the terminologies surma, kohl, and kajal are often used interchangeably, findings suggest regional variations in the product names. The majority of the surma in this study were from Pakistan, kohl was from Morocco, and kajal was from India. The results also show that these products can contribute to elevated BLLs in children. Our study reveals that traditional eye cosmetics and cultural powders are used among children as young as newborns, and exposure to these products can significantly add to their lead body burden. The study findings also reveal that lead concentrations in these products can vary by product type and product names can vary by region. Public health officials must be cognizant of these unique variations and use culturally appropriate terminologies for these types of products because such distinctions can be critical when conducting risk assessments, risk communication, and risk reduction activities.

Selenium-containing peptides as effective alleviators for low-level lead induced neural damage

The TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ, two selenium-containing peptides derived from Se-enriched rice protein hydrolysates, have previously been demonstrated to show neuroprotective properties against high-dose lead exposure. However, the potential toxicological effects of these functional peptides on low-dose lead-induced neurotoxicity remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of two selenium-containing peptides in mitigating low-dose Pb2+-induced damage in HT22 cells. Results showed that treatment with 40 μmol/L Pb2+ significantly reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis, both of which were alleviated by 40 μmol/L TSeMMM and SeMDPGQQ treatment. Furthermore, two peptides exhibited antioxidant potentials by reducing reactive oxygen species levels to 32.19% and 79.29% of the model group, respectively. They also enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and mitigated oxidative stress through activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Additionally, two peptides improved mitochondrial function by elevating mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP production while dramatically reducing reactive oxygen species levels. Interestingly, TSeMMM exhibited superior neurointerventional effects compared to SeMDPGQQ. The RNA sequencing analysis revealed that TSeMMM modulated gene expressions related to oxidative stress and neuroprotective function. The study provides insights into the protective mechanism underlying selenium-containing peptides for mitigating neuronal damage.

A ZnO-nanorod/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite functionalized bridge-like membrane type nanomechanical sensing device for ultrasensitive blood lead detection

Lead (Pb) ion detection poses a critical problem, particularly in environmental monitoring, industrial operations, and public health, especially for young children and expecting women. Determining lead levels in blood early on is essential to minimizing the long-term consequences of lead exposure. Several sophisticated detection instruments, such as mass spectrometers which perform with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, but require a lab-based setting, multi-step sample preparation, expensive payment and professional operation. It is evident that a highly sensitive, portable, low-cost, quick sample-to-result, blood lead detection device that can be tested at the point-of-care is necessary. Consequently, we developed a unique ZnO/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite layer integrated with a CMOS MEMS-based bridge-like membrane-type (BM) nanomechanical sensor for detecting lead levels in blood. PEDOT:PSS was combined with ZnO nanorods to increase lead ion binding. The sensor responds seven times better to lead ions using nanorods in the detecting layer. A linear resistance change rate response was found from 0.005 to 10 ppm, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.12 ppb. Similarly, our BM nanomechanical sensor can correctly assess Pb2+ in human serum with recovery rates of 86.25-150%. Measurements of human blood samples from patients with varying lead ion concentrations validated by the standard AAS show a good linear connection with the BM nanomechanical sensors' concentration, with a regression coefficient of 0.92. This describes the first micromachined nanoachanical sensing system for detection of Pb2+ in only 5 μL of human serum sample. The device achieves a time-to-result of less than 10 min. The system is designed to be very sensitive and offers affordable, disposable sensing chips together with a portable signal acquisition platform.

10-Hydroxy Decanoic Acid and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Retrieve Nrf2/HO-1 and Caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 Signaling in Lead-Induced Testicular Toxicity.

There has been a significant increase in human exposure to heavy metals (HMs) over the course of the previous century, primarily due to the extensive industrial processes. Male infertility is a prominent complication associated with lead exposure, wherein lead has the potential to accumulate within the testes, resulting in oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10-HDA) is a component found in the secretions of worker bees and possesses the capacity to mitigate oxidative stress and prevent inflammation. Due to their advantageous properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) possess a wide range of applications in the field of biomedicine. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs on testicular toxicity in rats induced by lead acetate (PbAc). PbAc was administered orally for a period of 3months. Following that, 10-HDA and/or ZnO-NPs were administrated for 1month. PbAc deformed seminal analysis, decreased seminal fructose and sex hormonal levels, and resulted inthe development of histopathological complications. Additionally, PbAc increased MDA and decreased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression, confirmed by the declined antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, an increase in testicular inflammatory markers and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was observed subsequent to the administration of PbAc. The administration of 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs demonstrated significant efficacy in the restoration of semen quality, pituitary/gonadal hormones, antioxidants, and testicularhistoarchitecture. Moreover, 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs decreased testicular inflammatory markers and apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and Bax expression levels). In conclusion, combining 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs demonstrated synergistic potential in treating PbAc-induced testicular toxicity, thereby presenting a promising approach in nanomedicine and natural drugs.

Trends and risk factors analysis of aortic aneurysm mortality in China over thirty years: based on the global burden of disease 2019 data.

This study aims to analyze the variation in mortality burden of aortic aneurysms (AA) and explore the associated risk factors based on Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data, investigating the mortality burden of AA in China. Using GBD 2019 data, the mortality burden of AA in China from 1990 to 2019 was analyzed. The age-period-cohort model was utilized to analyze time trends, period, and cohort effects of 4 attributable risk factors of AA by age. In 2019, the total number of AA deaths in China increased by 136.1% compared to 1990, while the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) decreased by 6.8%. Male deaths and ASMR were higher than those of females, and ASMR increased with age. Whether viewed overall (Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC): -0.261, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.383 to -0.138) or by sex (female AAPC: -0.812, 95% CI: -0.977 to -0.646; male AAPC: -0.011, 95% CI: -0.183 to 0.162), the ASMR for AA in China has shown a declining trend since 1990. Attributable risk factors such as high blood pressure, a diet high in sodium, smoking, and lead exposure increase AA mortality with age. Smoking mortality peaks between ages 80-85. The cyclical effect of high blood pressure on AA mortality significantly increases, while the cyclical effects of the other three risk factors decrease. For the population born after 1940, the cohort effect of high systolic blood pressure (SBP), a diet high in sodium, and smoking increased, while the cohort effect of lead exposure decreased. The local drift values of high SBP, a diet high in sodium, and smoking decreased, while the local drift value of lead exposure increased. High SBP was identified as the most significant attributable risk factor for AA mortality burden among both males and females, and smoking was another major attributable risk factor, particularly in males. From 1990 to 2019, fatality due to AA in China increased notably, but the ASMR showed a decreasing trend. The mortality rate of AA was influenced by age, sex, and attributable risk factors, with elderly male smokers carrying a heavy burden of death. Moreover, tobacco control and treatment of hypertension should be strengthened to reduce the burden and its impact on AA.