Significant Differences In Mean Concentrations Research Articles

Does PM 2.5 and PM 10-associated heavy metals affect short-term and long-term survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest? Four-year study based on regional registry.

This study aims to investigate the effect of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) suspended on particulate matters (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 taking into account clinical factors on 30-day and one-year survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). A retrospective 4-year study that involved patients hospitalized after OHCA. Patients' data were obtained from Emergency Medical Services dispatch cards and the National Health Fund. The concentration of air pollutants was measured by the Environmental Protection Inspectorate in Poland. Among the 948 patients after OHCA, only 225 (23.7%) survived for 30 days, and 153 (16.1%) survived for 1 year. Survivors were more commonly affected by OHCA in urban areas (85 [55.6%] vs. 355 [44.7%]; P=0.013) and had slightly higher one-year mean concentration of As (0.78 vs. 0.77; P=0.01), Cd (0.34 vs. 0.34; P=0.012), and Pb (11.13 vs. 10.20; P=0.015) with no differences in daily mean concentration. Significant differences in mean concentrations of heavy metals and PM 2.5 and PM 10 were observed among different quarters. However, survival analysis revealed no differences in long-term survival between quarters. Heavy metals, PM 2.5, and PM 10 did not affect short-term and long-term survival in multivariable logistic regression. The group of survivors showed slightly higher mean one-year concentrations of As, Cd and Pb, but they also experienced a higher incidence of OHCA in urban areas. There were no differences in long-term survival between patients who suffer OHCA in different quarters. Heavy metals did not independently affect survival.

Laboratory evaluation of a prototype portable gas chromatograph (GC) with a flame ionization detector (FID) for toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (TEX) analysis

The standard method to evaluate human exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is in general performed by sampling the air on sorbents followed by liquid extraction and detection using laboratory gas chromatograph (GC). The conventional method is time and labor intensive and employs a toxic solvent which adds a risk factor as well as waste. Hence, there have been increasing demands for portable GC instruments which allow near real-time, in-situ analysis. In this study, the potential use of a prototype, dual column portable GC (protoGC) with flame ionization detector (FID) was examined by comparing its performance with a conventional GC laboratory method. Four target concentration levels (1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x; x = 1.12 ± 0.01 ppm) of toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-, m-, and p-xylene were generated in an exposure chamber (24 ± 1 °C and 50 ± 5% RH). The challenge atmosphere was directly sampled and analyzed with protoGC while for the conventional method it was sampled on a sorbent tube and analyzed with a laboratory GC/FID. The results of protoGC correlated well with the conventional method (r = 0.991–0.999), indicating that protoGC has comparable performance with the conventional method within the test conditions. Although two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in mean concentrations between the methods, the differences were small. protoGC would be useful to monitor VOCs in air with high temporal resolution or to quickly determine the safety of the environment of interest due to the substantial time savings in sampling and analysis. Further examinations at various environmental conditions and other analytes will be necessary to thoroughly evaluate its performance.

Non-invasive assessment of fecal glucocorticoid and androgen metabolites in the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)

The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is an endangered species endemic to the Upper Guinea Forest ecosystem in West Africa. We have limited information concerning the species’ reproduction and well-being under managed care. We therefore developed non-invasive methods for characterizing gonadal androgen and adrenal hormone profiles in pygmy hippos using fecal samples collected from 12 males and 12 females housed in North American zoological institutions. We aimed to: 1) identify and validate enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for measuring metabolites of corticosteroids and testosterone in feces; and 2) test whether gonadal activity is correlated with previous breeding history, season or type of housing. For glucocorticoids, several EIAs for measuring metabolites were investigated. A group-specific EIA exhibiting cross-reactivity with 11,17-dioxoandrostane (DOA) metabolites of cortisol most clearly reflected adrenocortical activity in response to pharmocological challenge with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in both males and females. However, day-to-day concentrations of this metabolite in the feces of pygmy hippos that did not undergo ACTH challenge were near the detection limits of the assay, making this EIA impractical for assessing glucocorticoid activity in this species. Another group-specific EIA, exhibiting cross-reactivity with 5α-pregnane-3β,11β,21-triol-20-one, produced biologically relevant data and evidence of an appropriate response to pharmacological challenge with exogenous ACTH. The testosterone metabolite assay C196 (Arbor Assays, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA) also produced biologically coherent data: adult males exhibited the highest mean androgen metabolite concentrations (477 ng/g), followed by adult females (259 ng/g) and juvenile males (160 ng/g). Proven breeding males had higher, but not significantly different, mean concentrations (472 ng/g) to unproven males (352 ng/g; P = 0.400). Similarly, adult males housed outdoors year-round in subtropical climates exhibited higher, but not statistically different mean concentrations (554 ng/g) to males in temperate climates that were housed indoors at least part of the year (412 ng/g; P = 0.208). There were, however, significant differences in mean concentrations among seasons for adult males, with higher values in spring (546 ng/g) and summer (542 ng/g) than in autumn (426 ng/g) and winter (388 ng/g, P = 0.003). In conclusion, we identified EIAs for the measurement of fecal metabolites of androgens and glucocorticoids that can be used for further studies to monitor gonadal activity in male pygmy hippos and adrenocortical activity in both sexes. We also identified a seasonal trend in male gonadal activity in this species under managed care in North America. Finally, our findings highlight an important consideration when using non-invasive methods for evaluating fecal cortisol metabolites: ACTH used for pharmacological validation of an EIA does not necessarily equate to biological relevance.

Method validation of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) assay for the analysis of Magnesium, Copper and Zinc in RBC

Abstract Background Laboratory measurements of trace elements such as magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in red blood cells (RBCs) are used to assess nutritional status and diagnose metal toxicity. The purpose of this study was to develop/validate an ICP-MS method for the quantification of these elements in RBCs. Methods An aliquot of packed RBCs was diluted in alkaline diluent solution containing scandium (45Sc) and gallium (71Ga), as internal standards, 0.1% Triton X-100, 0.1% EDTA, and 1% ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). The diluted specimen was aspirated onto an ICP-MS for quantitative analysis of 25Mg, 63Cu and 66Zn. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, method comparison, linearity, analytical sensitivity, and carryover. Retrospective data was analyzed and non-parametric reference intervals (RIs) were calculated. Results Accuracy and linearity were within the expected range of =±15% for all analytes. Within-run, between-run, and total imprecisions were =15% CV. All other validation experiments met acceptance criteria. Established RIs for Mg, Cu and Zn in RBCs are 3.6-7.5 mg/dL, 59.0-91.0 mcg/dL and 794.0-1470.0 mcg/dL, respectively. Retrospective analysis of patient data for Mg RBC displayed no statistically significant difference in mean concentrations between adults (>18+ yr) and children (0-18 yr) (p >0.05); however, there was a significant difference in Mg concentrations between males and females (p < 0.001). The mean and SD for Mg RBC concentration for females and males were 5.38 + 0.68 mg/dL (n=8451) and 5.42 + 0.68 mg/dL (n=3954) respectively. The 95% RI was 4.2-6.9 mg/dL; >99% of patient results were within the established RI. Cu RBC mean concentrations were not statistically significant between males and females (p> 0.05) and age differences were not evaluated due to the low number of pediatric patients (n=37). The mean and SD for Cu concentrations were 72.2 + 11.7 mcg/dL (n=423). The overall 95% RI was 54.3-96.3 mcg/dL; 88.9% of patient results were within the established RI. For Zn RBC, there was a statistically significant difference in mean concentrations between children and adults (p < 0.0001) and no statistically significant difference between sex (p > 0.05). The mean and SD for Zn concentrations in children were 1103.7 + 225.5 mcg/dL (n=188). The 95% RI for this subgroup was 707.3– 1547.6 mcg/dL; 87.8% of pediatric patients were within the established RI. In adults, the mean and SD for Zn concentrations were 1311.7 + 196.2 mcg/dL (n=1579). The 95% RI was 932.5 – 1718.3 mcg/dL; 83.3% of patient results were within the established RI. Conclusions This method was validated and met criteria for clinical use to quantify three elements using ICP-MS for biological monitoring. Retrospective data analysis of patient results demonstrated that the method was suitable to assess nutritional deficiency and toxicity.

Effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes, Urea and Creatinine in Undergraduate Footballers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Prolonged exercise leads to progressive water and electrolyte loss from the body as sweat is secreted to promote heat loss. The rate of sweating depends on many factors and is increased in proportion to the work rate and the environmental temperature and humidity. Prolong exercise could lead to an alteration in electrolyte concentrations and this could lead to deleterious effects in the body. Aim: To determine the effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes Urea and Creatinine in undergraduate footballers in Anambra State. Method: Six football teams comprising of 11 players each were grouped into 3 sets. Each set containing 22 players was allowed to play football for at least 2hours with a 15 minutes break interval. They were allowed to take only 250mls water during this exercising period. Blood samples were collected from all the subjects prior to the exercise from anticubital veins with the subjects in sitting position. Post-Exercise blood Samples were collected within 5 minutes after and 2hrs after the exercise. The blood samples were also analyzed for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Blood sample for calcium was collected after removing the tourniquet for 2 minutes. The serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride and calcium were estimated using ion-selective electrodes while urea and creatinine were estimated using standard colorimetric methods. Results: There was no significant difference in mean concentrations of serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3-) profile levels in pre-exercising subjects when compared with the post-exercising period. (P> 0.05). However, the mean levels of Ca2+ increased significantly in post-exercise period when compared with the pre-exercising condition (P < 0.05). The findings of this work suggest that short duration of exercise does not alter significantly the serum electrolytes.

Heavy Metals Accumulation in Dragonflies (Odonata) and Their Habitats in District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Assessing Dragonfly Bionomics in the Region.

The current study aimed to examine the bionomics of dragonflies and heavy metal accumulation in their bodies and environment (sediments and water) from district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 1683 dragonflies were collected from May to September, 2018 in 4 tehsils (administrative subdivisions) of district. Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum was the most abundant species followed by O. anceps and O. chrysostigma luzonicum. Highest abundance was observed in July and August corresponding to maximum temperature and rainfall. Dragonflies displayed preferable abundance within agricultural lands and on elevation ranging from 206 to 506 m. Heavy metal analysis of sediments and water samples from 4 tehsils showed significant differences in mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe. Abundance among districts was negatively associated with Fe levels in water while the species diversity had a significant positive relationship with Fe in sediments. Accumulation of metals in each body part significantly varied among species. N. tullia tullia and O. anceps specifically demonstrated their tolerance to high concentrations of heavy metals.

EFFECT OF MALARIA INFECTION ON HEPATIC AND RENAL FUNCTIONS IN PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT GENERAL HOSPITAL DUTSE, JIGAWA-NIGERIA

The effect of malaria infection on hepatic and renal functions in pregnancywas investigated. Three malarious and non-malarious pregnant women of age ranges 15 to 40 years with a mean (SD) of 23.5 (6.6) years and a median (IQR) of 20.5 (18.3 to 27) years were enrolled. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and Kidney (UCE) functions were determined using Randox standard assay kits. The levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin were significant as malaria infected pregnant women had significantly lowered levels of ALP and albumin compared to controls (21.3 vs 26.1 IU/L, P = 0.03 and 4.8 vs 6.0 g/dl P = 0.02). There was no significant difference between malaria infected pregnant women and their non-malarious counterparts (P > 0.05) in their renal functions. There was no significant difference in mean concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and chloride regardless of the severity of malaria. Usually in pregnancy markers of liver function decrease due to expansion of extracellular fluid except alkaline phosphatase which is elevated due to its placental origin. Results of this study showed decreased level of ALP which could possibly be an indication that the parasite has not reached its hepatic stage. The severity of gestational malaria depends on the initial immunity of the pregnant woman. The impact of malaria on pregnancy and conversely, the impact of pregnancy on malaria, are two factors which must be put into consideration during gestational malaria

Assessment of trace metal contamination by geochemical normalisation in sediments of two lagoons: A comparative study of the Kpeshie and Muni lagoons, Ghana

Heavy metal contamination status of bottom sediments of two lagoons was compared by the employment of Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis for Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cupper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Zinc (Zn) and Mercury (Hg). Kpeshie Lagoon recorded enrichment (EF ≥ 1) for Cd, Pb, Ag, Hg and Zn, whilst Muni Lagoon recorded enrichment for Cd, Mn, Ag, Hg and Zn as metals of anthropogenic influence. Kpeshie, situated in a highly urbanized area, has 75% spatial distribution of Pb enrichment. The assessment shows that Ag and Hg are the most enriched metals in the sediments of both Lagoons, reaching extremely severe levels. Only Mn showed statistically significant difference in mean concentration of metals for both Lagoons. Pearson correlation matrix indicated that Pb had a strong relation with Ag, Hg and Zn (r = 0.956; p < 0.05) which is significant in Kpeshie. It also had a strong association with Ag and Hg but not with Zn (r = 0.240) in the Muni. The study clearly delineates Pb as a pollutant that designates the urban status of Kpeshie. Its associated metals; Ag, Hg and Zn which may be coming from a common source are from industrialized zones.

Investigation of metals accumulation in soil dumpsites using proton-induced X-ray emission.

This work was designed to examine the elemental constituents and physiochemical parameters of dumpsites in four local government areas in Ondo State. Elemental composition and physiochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, chloride and nitrate were analyzed in soil samples. The data were analyzed using the windows version 24.0 of the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Odigbo reported the highest mean concentrations in Al, Zn and Co. The highest mean concentrations of metals were Si, K, Cr, S and Y in Okitipupa. Although at Irele P, Fe, Rb, Sr, Bi and Au had the maximum mean concentration, in Control Site, Cl and Mn had an exponential increase in value. The highest value was observed in Ilaje for V, Cu, As, Zr, Sn, Pb. There was significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) in all metals except Sr, Bi and Y, which did not reveal any significant difference in mean concentration. The soil sample values at other sites were greater than the values collected at the control site. This study found that some of the obtained elemental concentrations were higher than the regulatory limits of the Soil-7 International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization. The study also revealed that continuous deposition of the elements in these dumpsites could lead to a threat to human health and to the environment.

Mineral availability in soil and fodders affecting blood profiles in Nili-Ravi dairy buffaloes.

A mineral assessment study for dairy buffaloes, Nili-Ravi breed, was carried out seasonally at silvopasture farm at Sargodha, Pakistan. Sampling for soil, forage, and buffalo serum was done seasonally for a period of 1year for mineral (P, Mg, Na, K, Ca) evaluation. In the study, experiments on forages showed significant differences in mean concentrations of Mg and P with changing seasons, whereas the values for Ca, Mg, Na, and K did not vary significantly. Three groups of buffaloes were checked for mineral concentration in blood serum, viz., calves, lactating and non-lactating. Ca mean concentration varied significantly for non-lactating buffaloes and calves between two seasons. Na mean level showed a significant difference for two sampling seasons among calves and lactating buffaloes. Mean level for Mg only differed significantly in serum of non-lactating buffaloes between the two seasons. Mean levels for Ca and P in soil and forage remained higher than the optimal level, whereas soil Na was below the critical level. K concentrations in soil and blood serum were above the critical level, while Mg levels remained below the optimal range in soil, forage, and blood serum. K concentration in forage remained below the optimal level. All buffalo categories displayed lower levels of Ca and P in serum. Na concentration in forage and serum exceeded the critical level. Furthermore, Ca yielded significant and positive correlation between soil and serum level, whereas K had significant but negative correlation for soil-forage and forage-serum. Overall, it was determined that P deficiency existed among buffaloes, which could be improved via supplementation. Similarly, K deficiency and Mg deficiency were exhibited for forage and soil respectively which could be countered through addition of fertilizers rich for these minerals. In brief, the mineral utilization of buffaloes is affected by reduced availability of essential nutrients and may result in lower productivity. It is suggested to add mineral supplementation in addition to natural diet of buffaloes to enhance the productivity of these animals.

Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase in the Prediction of Severity in Pre- Eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive pregnancy disorder accompanied by proteinuria. Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is a biochemical marker that reflects the severity and progression of pre-eclampsia. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS). One hundred pre-eclamptic women were enrolled and categorized into mild (n=30) and severe pre-eclamptic groups (n=70) to ascertain the function of LDH as a prognostic marker and to assess its association with severity and gestational age in pre-eclamptic women. The significant differences in mean concentrations of LDH between mild and severe preeclamptic women (p-value <0.0001) and early and late-onset pre-eclamptic women (p-value=0.049) were found. Significant differences were also found in the LDH range between mild and severe preeclamptic women presented with late-onset pre-eclampsia (p-value= 0.004). Statistically significant differences (p-value= 0.019) in the levels of LDH were found with systolic blood pressure and proteinuria (p-value= 0.048). LDH is the prognostic marker representing the severity of pre-eclampsia. An increased level of LDH directs adequate monitoring and management; and by early detection of preeclampsia, serious consequences and complications may be prevented.

Modelling biogenic amines in fish meat in Central Europe using censored distributions

The aim of the study is to model concentrations of selected biogenic amines in various fish species (Atlantic salmon, Atlantic cod, striped catfish) bought in retail stores in Central Europe. Since the data contains non-detectable values, statistical methods for left-censored values from the exponential and Weibull distributions are applied and used to evaluate and compare the amount of biogenic amines in fish samples. Moreover, a risk of exceeding certain limits of biogenic amine concentrations to protect human health is determined. There are relatively high concentrations of putrescine, cadaverine and histamine in almost all fish species. Moreover, there was a significant difference in mean concentrations (distributions of concentrations, respectively) of histamine, tyramine and spermidine among the species.

Characterization and health risk assessment of indoor dust in biomass and LPG-based households of rural Telangana, India

ABSTRACTIndoor dust is one of the key sources contributing to indoor air pollution (IAP) in rural households. It acts as a media for various toxicants like heavy metal depositions and causes severe health risks. The present study deals with investigation of metal concentrations and morphological characteristics of indoor dust generated in varied fuel types followed by estimation of health risks for women and children in rural households in Telangana, India. Indoor floor dust samples were collected from households using biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as their cooking energy during winter to evaluate the morphological and chemical characteristics in the aforementioned dust samples. A morphological (SEM-EDX) analysis revealed the presence of carbonaceous particles in biomass-based households and mineral-rich crustal sources in LPG-based households. As observed from ICP-OES analysis, there is a significant difference in mean concentrations of Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Zn, and Ni based on fuel type, except for Mn and Pb. From Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis, it was observed that the biomass households were dominated by Zn, Al, Mn, Cr, and Pb, which could have been contributed from biomass burning deposits, crustal sources, and unpaved roads, while Cr, Pb, Fe, and Mn dominated in LPG households, indicating their origin from leaded paints (Pb and Cr) and crustal sources. The health risks associated with these heavy metals to women and children were investigated using an EPA health risk model. The values from the model indicated that both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were within the safe levels for both subjects. This study not only establishes chemical and morphological characteristics of indoor dust, but also quantifies the role of fuel type.Implications: The present study provides the latest geographical evidence of chemical and morphological characterization of indoor dust particles in varied fuels; i.e, biomass- and LPG-based households and associated health risk assessment in a sub-tropical rural site in Telangana, India. Nevertheless, further research is essential from various regions across the country for more heavy metal analysis and factors impacting these levels. One of the major limitations of the present study is the analysis of few metals and measurements in only living area locations. Future studies can include soil and road dust, as well as kitchens and bedrooms, to provide more comprehensive analysis of dust compositions in varied environments.

Inflammatory cell death‐related proteins as potential biomarkers in Takotsubo syndrome

BackgroundTakotsubo syndrome (TS), triggered by emotional or physical stress, is prevalent in postmenopausal women and is characterized by an acute and usually reversible left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities. Histopathological analyses of TS animal models revealed presence of single cardiomyocyte cell death with features of inflammatory reaction, however the type of cell death in TS and its impact on the course of the disease has not been explained so far.PurposeThe aim of the study was to evaluate the plasma concentration and release dynamics of proteins associated with inflammatory cell death (pyroptosis, necroptosis) and apoptosis in female rat model of TS.Methods9‐weeks old Sprague Dawley rats were ovariectomized and after 3 weeks received an intraperitoneal injection with a single dose of 150 mg/kg isoprenaline (TO group). The control rats were ovariectomized and received an injection of 0.9% NaCl (CO group). Echocardiography and blood collection was performed 6 (TO6h), 12 (TO12h), 24 (TO24h), 72 (TO72h) hours, and 10 (TO10d) days after ISO or NaCl administration. The plasma concentrations of cell death‐related proteins including: interleukin 1 beta (IL1b) and caspase 1 (casp1) involved in pyroptosis, caspase 3 (casp3) in apoptosis, mixed lineage kinase domain like pseudokinase (MLKL), receptor‐interacting serine/threonine‐protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase type II delta chain (CAMK2d) in necroptosis were evaluated.ResultsThe echocardiographic examination in TO group revealed several types of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities, including basal, mid‐basal and apical akinesia, as well as a mixed variant. In comparison to the CO group, the median plasma concentration of IL1b was significantly higher in the TO6h (p&lt;0.01), TO12h (p&lt;0.01), TO24h (p&lt;0.05) and TO72h (p&lt;0.001) series. Moreover, when compared to the CO group, the median plasma concentration of CAMK2d was significantly higher in TO6h (p&lt;0.001), TO12h (p&lt;0.001), TO24h (p&lt;0.001), TO72h (p&lt;0.001) and TO10d (p&lt;0.05) series. No significant differences in mean concentrations of casp1, casp3, MLKL and RIPK1 between CO and TO groups were found.ConclusionsSignificant variability of concentration and release dynamics of inflammatory cell death‐related proteins, including pyroptosis and necroptosis, indicates their potential role in pathogenesis of TS and suggests the potential use of them as biomarkers in TS.Support or Funding InformationThe research is funded by “Diamond Grant” from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (project No. DI2015 003045).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

English

Arsenic (As) in food and water has been linked to cancers and other diseases. Rice is of interest because many types may contain higher contents of As than other foods of terrestrial origin. As concentrations in rice produced from three Local Government Areas of Kano State were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The mean As concentrations were 0.369 &plusmn; 0.092, 0.293 &plusmn; 0.126, and 0.255 &plusmn; 0.125 mg/kg in Kura, Tudun Wada, and Bagwai Local Government Areas of Kano State, respectively. The mean concentrations were all above the maximum limit of 0.2 mg/kg set by Alimentratious Commission (2014) and Commission Regulation (EU, 2015). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there is no significant difference in mean concentration of As (mg/kg) among the three local government areas. Key words: Rice, arsenic, Kura, Tudun Wada, Bagwai. &nbsp

Evaluation The Immunological State Of Women’s Sera Infected With Toxoplasmosis.

Background: The ubiquitous protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates and immunocompromised hosts. Both acute invasion and reactivation of latent infection result in an inflammatory reaction with lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. Better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance of the host against this protozoan is important for development of safe, effective alternative treatment regimens for toxoplasmosis in the future.Aim of study:This study aimed to investigate some immunological parameters of woman’s sera infected with Toxoplasmosis in Baghdad city, through investigation the potential role of some interleukins mediating the inflammatory response after T. gondii infection.Methods: Detection of parasite antibodies was achieved by MELA by testing 185 women which referred to central health laboratory during the period from March to July 2004; ELISA technique was used to detect serum concentration of IL-1α, IL-8, and IL-10 , alsoSRID used to calculate total IgG,IgM, C3, and C4 concentrations in both group understudy.Results:According to the study, there was significant increasing in mean concentration of IgG whereas IgM concentration do not affected in both patients and control groups, also there were no significant differences in the mean concentration of C3 and C4component of complement between two groups of study. There were no significant differences in mean concentration of serum IL-1α (0.68 pg/ml) and IL-8 (20.14 pg/ml) in infected women when compared with healthy one (0.187 pg/ml) and (17.0 pg/ml)respectively. However, the mean serum concentration of IL-10 was highly and significantly elevated during T. gondii infection (21.125 pg/ml) in comparison to that of healthy control (9.525 pg/ml). The study did not record any significant change in the mean total WBCs count between patients and control groups, also there were no differences in mean percentage of neutrophils in both groups, the mean percentage of eosinophils and lymphocytes was highly significant in infected women’s samples as compared with control.Conclusion:Most cases of toxoplasmosis were diagnosed at the chronic stags of disease, hence there were no clear sign and symptoms that draw attention, however, abortion was the only manifestation that refer to infection with toxoplasmosis, since the concentrations of pro inflammatory cytokines (like IL-1α) and chemokines (such as IL-8) decreased against increase the level of anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokine IL-10 that prevent the host immune response leading to undesirable pathological changes.

Baseline Air Quality Assessment of Goods Movement Activities before the Port of Charleston Expansion: A Community-University Collaborative.

As the demand for goods continues to increase, a collective network of transportation systems is required to facilitate goods movement activities. This study examines air quality near the Port of Charleston before its expansion and briefly describes the establishment and structure of a community-university partnership used to monitor existing pollution. Particulate matter (PM) concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) were measured using the Thermo Fisher Scientific Partisol 2000i-D Dichotomous Air Sampler, Thermo Scientific Dichotomous Sequential Air Sampler Partisol-Plus 2025-D, and Rupprecht & Patashnick TEOM Series 1400 Sampler at neighborhood (Union Heights, Rosemont, and Accabee) and reference (FAA2.5 and Jenkins Street) sites. Descriptive statistics were performed and an ANOVA (analysis of variance) was calculated to find the difference in overall mean 24-hour PM average concentrations in communities impacted by environmental injustice. PM2.5 (15.2 μg/m3) and PM10 (27.2 μg/m3) maximum concentrations were highest in neighborhoods such as Union Heights neighborhoods due to more goods movement activities. Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant difference in mean concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 across neighborhood sites. In contrast, mean PM10 neighborhood concentrations were significantly lower than mean PM10 reference concentrations for Union Heights (p = 0.00), Accabee (p ≤ 0.0001), and Rosemont (p = 0.01). Although PM concentrations were lower than current National Ambient Air Quality Standards, this study demonstrated how community-university partners can work collectively to document baseline PM concentrations that will be used to examine changes in air quality after the port expansion brings additional goods movement activities to the area.

An evaluation of multiplex bead-based analysis of cytokines and soluble proteins in archived lithium heparin plasma, EDTA plasma and serum samples

Objective: To assess the usability of archived plasma and serum by multiplex (Luminex) analysis of circulating proteins (analytes) by evaluating the day to day variation, the effect of several freeze-thaw cycles, and the influence of the media and choice of anticoagulant.Methods: Nineteen analytes in plasma and serum from 86 head and neck cancer patients and 33 controls were evaluated: EGFR, leptin, OPN, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, IL-2, IL-13, PDGF-bb, TNF, PAI-1, SDF-1a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, eotaxin, G-CSF, VEGF, GRO-a, and HGF.Results: The correlation between measurements of the same samples analyzed on different dates was reasonable. However, samples run on different dates could exhibit different absolute values. The 75th percentile of the fold differences for samples run on different dates was 2.2. No significant difference was found between one and four freeze-thaw cycles (except for HGF), and the correlation was high. We found significant differences in mean concentrations of the majority of analytes in different media and with different anticoagulants. Only the following analytes did not show difference in mean concentrations: EDTA plasma vs. serum: leptin and VEGFR-2, LH plasma vs. serum: IL-2, IL-13, and VEGF, LH plasma levels vs. EDTA plasma: IL-2 and IL-4.Conclusion: Stored serum, LH plasma, and EDTA plasma from clinical trials can be used for analysis of circulating cytokines and proteins. Variations in measurements occur, but are within reasonable ranges. The optimal type of media depends on the analytes, as different analytes have low number of measurements below the lower limit of quantification and higher dynamic ranges in different media.

Seasonal variations of the photosynthetic activity and pigment concentrations in different reproductive phases of Gigartina skottsbergii (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) in the Magellan region, sub-Antarctic Chile

Seasonal environmental changes may significantly influence macroalgal diversity and biomass. Cryptogam species richness increases towards the poles, especially in sub-Antarctic environments. Yet, subpolar seaweed biodiversity and ecophysiology remain understudied even though it is essential for the management and sustainability of endemic species of significant economic interest (e.g., Gigartina skottsbergii). We evaluate the seasonality and ecophysiology of the different life phases of the rhodophyte G. skottsbergii by analyzing variation in fluorescence yield and photosynthetic pigment composition. There were significant seasonal differences in maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) between gametophyte and tetrasporophyte phase, and between reproductive and vegetative specimens. Photosynthetic efficiency (α) was not significantly different between reproductive states of G. skottsbergii. We found significant differences in mean concentrations of allophycocyanin (APC), phycocyanin (PC), and chlorophyll a (Chl a) between gametophyte and tetrasporophyte phases. Results obtained provide new insight into seasonal acclimation patterns of an ecologically important species, which can be used for the design of appropriate management and cultivation strategies of G. skottsbergii towards the restoration of natural populations in fragile, subpolar regions where some of the last, relatively undisturbed communities of G. skottsbergii still remain.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in raw milk for human consumption

The presence of heavy metals in various farm inputs, including feed, fertilizer, water and environment leads to excretion of the residues in animals’ milk. Because consumption of milk contaminated with heavy metals poses serious threats to consumers’ health, a study was conducted in 2012 – 2013 in Pakistan to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals in unprocessed raw milk procured in different seasons from Jhang city, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 400 milk samples was collected from milk shops and dairy farms, and the contents of heavy metals, i.e. copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) were analysed via atomic absorption spectrometry. Results indicated that the average concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cd were significantly higher than International Dairy Federation Standards. Within a season, heavy metal levels differed significantly among samples. For each type of milk source, there was a significant difference in mean concentration of heavy metals between summer and winter. Based on these findings, there is a critical need to set legal limits and surveillance for heavy metals in an animal’s milk. Keywords: Consumer, health metals, milk, season