Significant Decrease In Phosphorus Research Articles

Antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of Teucrium polium extract: computational and in vivo study in rats

The current study aimed to assess the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of teucrium polium extract: computational and in vivo study in rats. Three groups of animals: Group (i) constitute the control group; Group (ii) HeLa group received an intrafemoral inoculation of HeLa cells and Group (iii) constitue the combination between HeLa + T. polium. The plant was administered by gavage. Our results revealed that HeLa cell injection showed an elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), creatinine, urea, calcium and phosphorus. The pretreatment with the plant extract reduced the level of these parameters. Injection of HeLa cells showed a significant decrease in phosphorus and calcium respectively. However, the pretreatment by T. polium modulated the level of these two minerals. Rats treated with HeLa cells line showed an increase in the level of lipid peroxidation as evaluated by the TBARS substances, at the same time, a significant decreases in SOD, CAT and GPx activities were noted in the HeLa group compared to the control. On the other hand, pretreatment with the plant improved the level of these enzymes. Our results revealed that T.polium has a therapeutic effect on some health problems. HeLa cell line induced a small infiltration in liver and kidney. T. polium reduced the damage in both liver and kidney, but did not reveal any proliferation of tumor cells from trabecular bone tissue. The computational study revealed that T. polium compound bound with high free binding energies and established promising network of molecular interactions with COX-2 and TNF-α macromolecules.

Effectiveness of phosphate binders in adult patients with end stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis: a systematic review.

The objective of the review was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of phosphate binders on mortality and serum levels of phosphorus, calcium and parathyroid hormone in adult patients with end stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis compared to hemodialysis with no phosphate binder use. End stage renal disease leading to hemodialysis is a common global health issue. Effective management of this population is focused on balancing alterations in bone mineral markers such as phosphorus, calcium and parathyroid hormone. Chronic imbalances are associated with all-cause mortality. Phosphate binders are a crucial element to regulating these levels. The review considered studies including adult patients, age 18 and over, receiving hemodialysis. The intervention of interest was the use of any drug within the class of phosphate binders. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and serum levels of phosphorus, calcium and parathyroid hormone. Experimental and quasi-experimental study designs were considered. A search for relevant published and unpublished literature was conducted through November 5, 2017. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), in addition to gray literature sources. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were further assessed for methodological validity by two independent reviewers using the standard critical appraisal instruments from Joanna Briggs Institute. Data were extracted from papers included in the review using the standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Quantitative data were pooled for statistical meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of phosphate binders on phosphorus and calcium. Seven studies were included in this review. A meta-analysis of four studies showed that the use of phosphate binders resulted in a statistically significant decrease in phosphorus levels compared to placebo (mean difference -1.89 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval -2.03 mg/dL, -1.75 mg/dL); three additional studies described narratively also showed a statistically significant decrease in phosphorus. A meta-analysis of three studies showed a statistically significant increase in calcium compared to placebo (mean difference 0.57 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval 0.50 mg/dL, 0.64 mg/dL); two additional studies described narratively showed no difference in effect on calcium. Of the three studies that measured parathyroid hormone, one showed a statistically significant improvement with the use of phosphate binders (mean difference -83.0 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval -154.63 pg/mL, -11.37 pg/mL) and two showed no difference in effect. No studies measured mortality. Phosphate binders are effective in reducing serum phosphorus. The findings on parathyroid hormone and calcium did not provide adequate support for phosphate binder use. The impact on mortality was not directly measured in any of the included studies.

Effects of Pamidronate on Dental Enamel Formation Assessed by Light Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Microhardness Testing

The aim of the present work was to investigate birefringence and morphology of the secretory-stage enamel organic extracellular matrix (EOECM), and structural and mechanical properties of mature enamel of upper incisors from adult rats that had been treated with pamidronate disodium (0.5 mg/kg/week for 56 days), using transmitted polarizing and bright-field light microscopies (TPLM and BFLM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microhardness testing. BFLM showed no morphological changes of the EOECM in pamidronate and control groups, but TPLM revealed a statistically significant reduction in optical retardation values of birefringence brightness of pamidronate-treated rats when compared with control animals (p0.05). The present study indicates that pamidronate can affect birefringence of the secretory-stage EOECM, which does not seem to be associated with significant changes in morphological and/or mechanical properties of mature enamel.

Inhaled corticosteroids may have a beneficial effect on bone metabolism in newly diagnosed asthmatic children

Background The adverse effect of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment on bone metabolism in children with asthma is still controversial, and a possible beneficial effect of vitamin D added to ICS on bone turnover is uncertain. Objective We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 6-month trial to assess the effects of a medium and high dose of ICS and a high-dose ICS with vitamin D on bone metabolism in children with newly diagnosed atopic asthma. Methods 96 children were equally randomized to 4 groups receiving the following doses of inhaled budesonide [μg/day]: 400 (ICS 400 group), 800 (ICS 800 group), 800 with oral vitamin D (ICS 800 with vit D group), and montelukast as a control (control group). Markers of bone production (osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase) and bone degradation (amino-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen – NTx, carboxy-terminal telopeptides of type I collage), and also concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OH D) and calcium–phosphorus balance (calcium, phosphorus, parathormon-PTH) in serum and/or urine were assessed twice: before and after 6 months of treatment. Results We obtained a significant decrease in phosphorus and PTH serum levels in ICS 400 and ICS 800 with vit D groups compared to control group, and a significant decrease of NTx urine level in ICS 800 with vit D group. Conclusions Medium doses of inhaled corticosteroids exert an advantageous effect on bone metabolism in newly diagnosed asthmatic children. Vitamin D together with a high dose of inhaled corticosteroids has a beneficial effect on both calcium–phosphorus balance and collagen turnover.

Iron, copper, zinc and bromine mapping in cirrhotic liver slices from patients with hemochromatosis studied by microscopic synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis in continuous scanning mode

Iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are essential metals in physiological cell metabolism. While Fe is easy to determine biochemically in histological slices, Cu and zinc (Zn) distribution is frequently critical in confirming the presence of an overload in disturbed Fe/Cu metabolism. To analyze Fe, Cu and Zn in a near histological resolution, energy dispersive microscopic synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence was applied. In normal liver tissue, after fixation and imbedding in paraffin, mean Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were 152 ± 54, 20.1 ± 4.3 and 88.919.5 μg/g sample weight, respectively. No substantial, characteristic differences in their distribution were found in the two-dimensional scans. In slices from patients with hemochromatosis mean Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were 1102 ± 539, 35.9 ± 14.6 and 27.2 ± 6.7 μg/g sample weight, respectively. Additionally, a significant decrease in phosphorus and sulphur concentrations existed. An increased Cu around cirrhotic regenerations nodules is mostly associated with a lymphocytic infiltration in this region. Analyzing concentrations of Fe in different regions of the samples show a clear negative dependency between Fe and Cu, Cu and Zn, but a positive one between Fe and Zn. Conclusion: With a focal beam size of 15 μm in diameter a resolution of the elemental distribution was achieved which is widely comparable with stained histological slices (20× light microscope). The analysis of simultaneous determined elements reveals metabolic differences between Fe, Cu and Zn in liver tissue from patients with hemochromatosis.

Nitrogen fixation in the activated sludge treatment of thermomechanical pulping wastewater: effect of dissolved oxygen

N-ViroTech, a novel technology which selects for nitrogen-fixing bacteria as the bacteria primarily responsible for carbon removal, has been developed to treat nutrient limited wastewaters to a high quality without the addition of nitrogen, and only minimal addition of phosphorus. Selection of the operating dissolved oxygen level to maximise nitrogen fixation forms a key component of the technology. Pilot scale activated sludge treatment of a thermomechanical pulping wastewater was carried out in nitrogen-fixing mode over a 15 month period. The effect of dissolved oxygen was studied at three levels: 14% (Phase 1), 5% (Phase 2) and 30% (Phase 3). The plant was operated at an organic loading of 0.7-1.1 kg BOD5/m3/d, a solids retention time of approximately 10 d, a hydraulic retention time of 1.4 d and a F:M ratio of 0.17-0.23 mg BOD5/mg VSS/d. Treatment performance was very stable over the three dissolved oxygen operating levels. The plant achieved 94-96% BOD removal, 82-87% total COD removal, 79-87% soluble COD removal, and >99% total extractives removal. The lowest organic carbon removals were observed during operation at 30% DO but were more likely to be due to phosphorus limitation than operation at high dissolved oxygen, as there was a significant decrease in phosphorus entering the plant during Phase 3. Discharge of dissolved nitrogen, ammonium and oxidised nitrogen were consistently low (1.1-1.6 mg/L DKN, 0.1-0.2 mg/L NH4+-N and 0.0 mg/L oxidised nitrogen). Discharge of dissolved phosphorus was 2.8 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L and 0.6 mg/L DRP in Phases 1, 2 and 3 respectively. It was postulated that a population of polyphosphate accumulating bacteria developed during Phase 1. Operation at low dissolved oxygen during Phase 2 appeared to promote biological phosphorus uptake which may have been affected by raising the dissolved oxygen to 30% in Phase 3. Total nitrogen and phosphorus discharge was dependent on efficient secondary clarification, and improved over the course of the study as suspended solids discharge improved. Nitrogen fixation was demonstrated throughout the study using an acetylene reduction assay. Based on nitrogen balances around the plant, there was a 55, 354 and 98% increase in nitrogen during Phases 1, 2 and 3 respectively. There was a significant decrease in phosphorus between Phases 1 and 2, and Phase 3 of the study, as well as a significant increase in nitrogen between Phases 2 and 3 which masked the effect of changing the dissolved oxygen. Operation at low dissolved oxygen appeared to confer a competitive advantage to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria.