Toxicity Of Sodium Research Articles

Studies on Acute toxicity of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals on Fish Fry (Labeo rohita, Ham.)

Essential cations, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals, are crucial in aquatic ecosystems, but when present in water in concentrations that have been described above as toxic to the different classes of aquatic organisms, they become toxic. This work examines the effects of acute exposure to selected alkali and Alkaline earth metals on fish fry with both the lethal and the sub-lethal effects studied. Fish fry, being at a very developmental stage, is more sensitive to environmental stressors such as chemical toxicity and is more suitable for evaluating aquatic pollution. The present investigation deals with the acute toxicity of Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) on rohu, Labeo rohita (Ham.) fry. Different concentrations of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride were used as test salts and their toxicity tests (LC50 values) were studied in laboratory conditions by exposing the rohu fry with different durations like 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs and 96 hrs of exposure. The LC50 values of different metal ions ranged between 10001.87 ppm - 750.23ppm in the case of sodium chloride, 1096.98 ppm - 68.73 ppm in the case of potassium chloride, 9872.44 ppm to 6384.12 ppm in the case of calcium chloride and 12676.81 ppm to 11095.66 ppm in case of magnesium chloride. In the 96-hour fry toxicity test, potassium chloride is more toxic than other metals. The toxicities of the salts were observed in the order of KCl>NaCl >CaCl2 >MgCl2.

Green Synthesis of Smart Hydrogels via Radiation Crosslinking of Sodium Alginate and Citric Acid for pH-Sensitive Doxycycline Hyclate Release

Doxycycline hyclate (DH) is a second-generation tetracycline antibiotic with lower toxicity than its predecessors, used for bacterial infections and topically for mucosal and diabetic ulcers. Healthy skin's pH is mildly acidic (4.0-6.0), regulating bacterial flora and preventing infections. Wounds disrupt this pH, revealing the tissue's neutral pH of 7.4, necessitating pH-sensitive controlled drug release for effective chronic wound treatment. This study explores polysaccharide-based hydrogels synthesized by crosslinking sodium alginate/citric acid (NaAlg/CA) solutions using gamma radiation with varying citric acid concentrations for pH-sensitive DH release. The citric acid-modified polysaccharide hydrogels were created using a green method, free of additional chemicals. Citric acid significantly influenced swelling, critical for drug loading and release, with the highest swelling capacity (3500% mass) observed at a 5:1 NaAlg/CA ratio. Hydrogels were tested for pH-dependent swelling and DH drug release profiles at pH 5.5, 7.4, and 9.0. The results indicate that at pH 7.4, which replicates the pH of chronic wounds, the release of DH showed a prolonged profile up to 40 hours, distinct from the results at pH 5.5 and 9.0. These results highlight the capabilities of NaAlg/CA hydrogels created through gamma radiation, combining the biocompatibility and low toxicity of sodium alginate/citric acid, for efficient and sustainable drug delivery, especially valuable in acute wound care where pH-specific therapeutic effectiveness is essential.

Toxic effects of a single sulfonamide antibiotic on two indicator organisms

The widespread use of antibiotics leads to more and more serious pollution of antibiotics in the environment, which has become a global ecological environment problem. Antibiotic pollution will affect the normal life activities of organisms and threaten human health through the food chain. In order to investigate the toxic effects of antibiotic pollution on different indicator organisms, Scenedesmus obliquus and Vibrio qinghaiensis sp-Q67 were used as indicator organisms. Eight widely used sulfonamides antibiotics (SAs), namely, sulfapyridine (SPY), sulfamethazine (SMR), sulfadimethazine (SM2), sulfamethoxazine (SMP), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), sulfaquinoxaline (SQ), sulfamethoxine (SMM), sulfamethoxine (SMM), and sulfamethoxine (SMM), were studied by microplate toxicity test. The growth inhibition toxicity of sulfamide chloropyrazine sodium (2-SPZ) and its binary mixture to Cyanobacteria obliqua (96h) and Vibrio Qingqingensis Q67 (15min acute and 1h chronic); Based on the actual environmental concentration of SAs in Huixian wetland of Guilin, two groups of six-element mixtures were designed to study their combined toxicity to two different indicator organisms.

Biochemical and histopathological evaluation of the potential ameliorating effects of Spirulina platensis against acute hepatorenal toxicity of diclofenac sodium in male rats

Biochemical and histopathological evaluation of the potential ameliorating effects of Spirulina platensis against acute hepatorenal toxicity of diclofenac sodium in male rats

Study of acute toxicity parameters of diclofenac sodium by different methods of administration

Annotation. The purpose of the work was to determine and investigate the parameters of the toxic effect of the substance diclofenac sodium in different ways of entering the body of warm-blooded animals. To achieve this goal, diclofenac sodium was administered to animals once and acute toxic effects were studied in white mice, non-linear white rats, and short-haired guinea pig under the conditions of intragastric, transdermal, and intranasal administration. The criteria for the toxicity of the studied compound (sodium diclofenac) were DL50 and CL50, using the probit analysis method. In addition, a number of toxicity indicators were calculated, in particular, allergenicity, local irritant effect were determined, and the effect on the mucous membrane of the eye. According to the obtained results, the DL50 indicator of diclofenac sodium in mice was 550 mg/kg (intragastric administration); in female rats – 54.83 mg/kg (intragastric administration). The toxicological parameter of diclofenac sodium was obtained – DL50 of transdermal administration for female rats, which is 104.4 mg/kg. It was determined that the CL50 of diclofenac sodium for mice is 71.61 mg/m3, the CL50 for male rats is 243.11 mg/m3. Diclofenac sodium has been found to be non-lethal to ants after a single dermal injection, but can irritate their skin in high concentrations. However, this substance, penetrating through the skin, causes deterioration of health and death of rats. When determining the allergenicity and local irritant effect in animals, it is shown that diclofenac sodium does not have a pronounced irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the eyes and does not exhibit allergenic properties. So, the established indicators of acute toxicity of diclofenac sodium testify to the expediency and perspective of further determination of cumulative characteristics during multiple intragastric, intranasal administrations and skin applications in order to establish and justify the maximum permissible concentration of diclofenac sodium in the atmospheric air of populated areas.

Natural sporopollenin microcapsules: biological evaluation and application in regulating hepatic toxicity of diclofenac sodium in vivo.

Diclofenac sodium (DIC) is a pain reliever and anti-nociceptive medication. Significant limitations of DIC treatment stem from its adverse effects. This study investigates the feasibility of using natural Lycopodium clavatum sporopollenin (LCS) microcapsules loaded with DIC to mitigate the hepatotoxicity associated with DIC treatment. In addition, LCS microcapsules were tracked in the blood, stomach, small intestine, and feces of rats to demonstrate their morphological integrity and uptake behavior. Four groups (6 per group) of adult male albino rats were administered normal saline (control), empty LCS (30 mg kg-1), plain DIC (10 mg kg-1), and DIC-loaded LCS (40 mg kg-1) orally for seven consecutive days. The first comprehensive histological examination of the rat stomach demonstrated the robustness and bioadhesion ability of LCS under severe conditions. The findings suggested that these versatile microcapsules are unlikely to be digested in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The administration of DIC-loaded LCS was found to play a potential protective role in regulating DIC-induced substantially increased serum levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, DIC-loaded LCS restored the antioxidant enzymes, DNA damage, and liver histological architecture abnormalities caused by DIC. Microencapsulation of DIC into pollen-derived biomaterials could be employed as an efficient platform with enough safety coverage on rat liver, pending further clinical studies.

Evaluation of gastroprotective activity of a chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol

Introduction: Development of new gastroprotectants for treatment of acid-related digestive disorders remains an ur­gent task of gastroenterology and pharmacology, due to the wide prevalence of this category of diseases, as well as the problem of insufficient efficacy and safety of the existing regimens. The aim of this study is to develop a chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol, and experimentally evaluate its gastroprotective activity in preclinical studies. Materials and methods: Preclinical studies were carried out on 4 different models of ulcer formation: NSAID gast­ropathy, 2 schemes (preventive or curative), ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis, and stress-induced ulcerogenesis. The gel under study containing chitosan and dexpanthenol was used in 3 doses (0.08, 0.16 and 0.24 ml/100 g of body weight). Results and discussion: The chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol in models of NSAID gastropathy and stress-induced ulcerogenesis (preventive scheme) has a pronounced gastroprotective effect, exceeding the effect of su­cralfate. In NSAID-gastropathy model (curative scheme), chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol has a gastropro­tective effect exceeding that of omeprazole, and also reduces the manifestations of organotropic toxicity of diclofenac sodium, exhibiting, in addition to the gastroprotective effect, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and hemostatic prop­erties according to laboratory and histological studies. Conclusion: The chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol is low toxic and has a pronounced gastroprotective effect in models of NSAID gastropathy (preventive and curative schemes) and stress-induced ulcerogenesis, which makes it promising for the prevention and treatment of ulcer formation in NSAID gastropathy and stress ulcers, in order to reduce the number and area of ulcerative defects, and to reduce the manifestations of organotropic toxicity of NSAIDs. Graphical abstract:

Post-disaster recovery plan for a rural settler's community affected by the Fundão dam tailings in Brazil

The Fundão Dam rupture in Mariana, Brazil spilled contaminated tailings across the Doce River basin reaching several towns such as Ipaba. Ibapa's agricultural and fishing activities declined by 50% due to the toxicity of sodium and ether-amine, followed by a reduction of nitrate resulting in inhibition of plant growth and biota. A settler's community in Ipaba composed of 51 families whose main sources of income were agriculture and fishing activities have abandoned their properties because the land became unproductive after the Fundão dam rupture, and the rural exodus is a current concern in the town. However, previous research has demonstrated that the remediation of sodium and ether-amine, as well as the recovery of soil fertility is feasible, enabling the establishment of the native Atlantic Forest and crop species. Such procedures are recommended to recover the agricultural production in Ipaba. Aiming at protecting these cropping areas against flooding, we propose the creation of riparian forests in the floodplains. In order to make the settlers able to properly manage their lands in a post-disaster scenario, a recovery plan for Ipaba may be implemented via nature based solutions supported by social capital actions such as agroforestry technical training schools and social association, which are shown through schemes and three-dimensional modelling.

Dietary Reference Intakes of sodium for Koreans: focusing on a new DRI component for chronic disease risk reduction.

Sodium is a physiologically essential nutrient, but excessive intake is linked to the increased risk of various chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular. It is, therefore, necessary to accomplish an evidence-based approach and establish the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes (KDRIs) index, to identify both the nutritional adequacy and health effects of sodium. This review presents the rationale for and the process of revising the KDRIs for sodium and, more importantly, establishing the sodium Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake (CDRR) level, which is a new specific set of values for chronic disease risk reduction. To establish the 2020 KDRIs for dietary sodium, the committee conducted a systematic literature review of the intake–response relationships between the selected indicators for sodium levels and human chronic diseases. In this review, 43 studies published from January 2014 to December 2018, using databases of PubMed and Web of Science, were finally included for evaluating the risk of bias and strength of evidence (SoE). We determined that SoE of the relationship between dietary sodium and cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension, was moderate to strong. However, due to insufficient scientific evidence, we were unable to establish the estimated average requirement and the recommended nutrient intake for dietary sodium. Therefore, the adequate intake of sodium for adults was established to be 1,500 mg/day, whereas the CDRR for dietary sodium was established at 2,300 mg/day for adults. Intake goal for dietary sodium established in the 2015 KDRIs instead of the tolerable upper intake level was not presented in the 2020 KDRIs. For the next revision of the KDRIs, there is a requirement to pursue further studies on nutritional adequacy and toxicity of dietary sodium, and their associations with chronic disease endpoint in the Korean population.

Degradation of diclofenac sodium by the UV/chlorine process: Reaction mechanism, influencing factors and toxicity evaluation

This study examined the reaction mechanism, influencing factors and toxicity of diclofenac sodium (DS) degradation by ultraviolet (UV)/chlorine process. The UV/chlorine was capable of eliminating DS from water. The DS degradation during the UV/chlorine process followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model that was influenced by chlorine dosage, solution pH, humic acid and bicarbonate concentrations. The free chlorine affects not only DS elimination, but the contribution of various active species as well. Increasing free chlorine dosage from 1 to 7 mg·L−1 increased the first-order rate constant of NaClO, ·OH and reactive chlorine species (RCS) from 0.00063, 0.00328 and 0.002030 min−1 to 0.00233, 0.01010 and 0.09740 min−1, respectively, and increased the contribution of RCS from 8.20% to 75.71%, while the contributions of UV, NaClO, and ·OH were declined from 76.02%, 2.54% and 13.24% to 14.63%, 1.81%, and 7.85%, respectively. The contribution of RCS became increasing prominence with the increment of free chlorine dosage. The kobs,UV/chlorine,DS value decreased from 0.07970 to 0.04450 min−1 as pH increased from 5.0 to 8.0. The presence of bicarbonate and natural organic matter both exerted an inhibitory effect on DS degradation. Eleven intermediate products were identified and the degradation pathway involved C-N cleavage, condensation, hydroxylation, and decarboxylation was proposed. The UV/chlorine process effectively reduced acute toxicity and was superior to chlorination. The genotoxicity induced by a chlorinated solution treated by the UV/chlorine process exhibited negative genotoxicity. These results show that the UV/chlorine process is capable for the degradation and detoxification of DS.

Cl− More Detrimental Than Na+ in Rice Under Long-Term Saline Conditions

Rice is considered sensitive to salinity and hence, improving the salinity tolerance of rice is desired to increase productivity. Most research on salinity tolerance for the growth and grain yield of rice focuses on the toxicity of sodium (Na+) and not chloride (Cl−); the information on the negative effects of Cl− on rice is still limited. To learn the difference in the long-term effects of Na+ and Cl− on the whole plant and grain productivities, three rice varieties differing in salinity tolerance were grown in pots irrigated by water with NaCl and KCl in the same molar concentration. The whole plant dry weight and grain yield in all varieties decreased to the same extent after NaCl and KCl treatments compared to the control during the full heading and maturity stages. However, Na+ content in shoots of all varieties under NaCl treatment were higher at all stages than that under KCl treatment and the control. In the most cases, the Cl− content in plants was similar in the NaCl and KCl treatment groups. There was a negative significant correlation between the relative dry weight and grain yield (treated/control) and the Cl− content in the plants. From these results, it was suggested that plant dry weight and grain yield under long-term salinity conditions was reduced by Cl− toxicity rather than Na+ toxicity.

Assessment of dose-dependent reproductive toxicity of diclofenac sodium in male rats

Diclofenac sodium is widely used in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of pain and inflammation. It is also particularly associated with its adverse effects on avian fauna and linked to environmental issues. The present study was aimed to assess the dose-dependent toxicity of diclofenac sodium on a male reproductive system of rats. Four groups of healthy adult fertile male rats were administered with saline (control) or 0.25 mg/kg, 0.50 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg of diclofenac sodium, respectively for 30 days. Alterations in body and organ weight, sperm and testicular cell population dynamics, serum biochemistry, histopathology, and hematology were investigated as per aimed objectives. Diclofenac sodium treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced weights of testis, epididymis, ventral prostate and seminal vesicle. Sperm count, sperm density (in epididymis and testis), sperm motility and testicular cell population dynamics were lowered in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of diclofenac exhibited varying degrees of degeneration testis, abnormal histo-architectures, and shrinkages in seminiferous tubules, particularly in higher doses. Diclofenac sodium treatments also altered hepatic and renal function parameters significantly. In conclusion, it may claim that diclofenac sodium treatment altered reproductive metabolic status, androgenic activities and histo-architecture of the testis of male rats and induced hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity.

The study of acute and chronic toxicity of the sodium-, calcium-, iron-polygalacturonate pharmacological substance in rabbits.

The purpose of this study is the assessment of the acute and chronic toxicity of pharmacological substance sodium, calcium, iron-polygalacturonate (PG Na,Ca,Fe) in rabbits as one of the stages of preclinical studies. We studied an acute and chronic oral toxicity of PG Na,Ca,Fe, which stimulates the process of hemopoiesis, in male and female rabbits of the "Chinchilla". According to the results of the study of acute toxicity of PG Na,Ca,Fe, treating with it the rabbits of both sexes in doses of 0.5-5 g/kg has no toxic effect (LD50 greater than 5 g/kg). The histostructure of studied organs of animals, treated with preparations in a dose of 5 g/kg, did not differ from that of the animals of the control group. This study allow to classify PG Na,Ca,Fe as a preparation of the 6th class with respect to harmless drugs. An estimate of the chronic toxicity of PG Na,Ca,Fe at administration of preparation in the form of boluses to rabbits in doses 0.025, 0.262 and 0.5 g/kg of the body weight demonstrated that the general condition and behavior of animals did not differ from the norm. The data of hematological and biochemical studies of blood serum and urine, electrocardiographic studies, the study of the mass coefficients of the internal organs of the experimental rabbits, treated with PG Na,Ca,Fe in the mentioned doses for 60 days, compared to those obtained in the 30-day post-observation period, did not show significant changes with respect to the control and intact group of rabbits.

Toxicity of naproxen sodium and its mixture with tramadol hydrochloride on fish early life stages

Pharmaceuticals occur in water bodies as a consequence of their incomplete removal during waste water treatment processes. The occurence of pharmaceuticals in surface waters as well as their possible impact on aquatic vertebrates have received considerable attention in recent years. However, there is still a lack of informations on the chronic effects of widely used drugs as well as their possible mixture toxicity on non-target aquatic vertebrates as well as their possible mixture toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of naproxen sodium on early life stages of fish and evaluate its mixture toxicity with tramadol hydrochloride, which was assessed in our earlier study as a single substance.Two embryo-larval toxicity tests with common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were performed according to the OECD guideline 210 (Fish, Early-life Stage Toxicity Test) in order to assess the subchronic toxicity of naproxen sodium and tramadol hydrochlorid-naproxen sodium mixture at the concentrations of 10; 50; 100 and 200 μg/L. These experiments were conducted for 32 days.The subchronic exposure to naproxen sodium and naproxen sodium and tramadol hydrochloride mixture had a strong effect on the early life stages of common carp. Hatching, developmental rate, morphology, histopathology and, in the case of the naproxen sodium and tramadol hydrochloride mixture, mortality were influenced. The bioindicators of oxidative stress were also influenced. The LOEC was determined at 10 μg/L for both naproxen sodium and naproxen sodium and tramadol hydrochloride mixture.

High-rate anaerobic digestion of thermally hydrolyzed wasted sludge (THWS) with high-strength ammonia

In this study, the anaerobic digestion of thermally hydrolyzed wasted sludge with high-strength ammonia was evaluated through ammonia-stripping and diverse types of anaerobic-digestion reactors. Although anaerobic digestion was conducted after ammonia-stripping and removal, anaerobic-digestion inhibition occurred due to the problem of the toxicity of sodium. Therefore, the sodium concentration should be maintained at lower than inhibitory concentration for effective anaerobic digestion. The results of the operating reactors, gas production amount, methane content, organic-matter removal efficiency, and methane yield were high in the order of the fluidized bed reactor (FBR), upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, and continuously stirred tank reactor types. As the microorganism concentrations in the FBR type were more than twice higher than those in the other reactors, the FBR type was able to keep the microorganism concentrations high, and the microbial proximity between the hydrogen-producing microorganisms and the hydrogen-consuming microorganisms was closest in the FBR type. Therefore, the reactor type for the efficient anaerobic digestion of wastewater containing high-concentration ammonia nitrogen is the FBR type.

Evaluation of the in vitro ocular toxicity of the fortified antibiotic eye drops prepared at the Hospital Pharmacy Departments

The use of parenteral antibiotic eye drop formulations with non-marketed compositions or concentrations, commonly called fortified antibiotic eye drops, is a common practice in Ophthalmology in the hospital setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ocular toxicity of the main fortified antibiotic eye drops prepared in the Hospital Pharmacy Departments. We have conducted an in vitro experimental study in order to test the toxicity of gentamicin, amikacin, cefazolin, ceftazidime, vancomycin, colistimethate sodium and imipenem-cilastatin eye drops; their cytotoxicity and acute tissue irritation have been evaluated. Cell-based assays were performed on human stromal keratocytes, using a cell-based impedance biosensor system [xCELLigence Real-Time System Cell Analyzer (RTCA)], and the Hen’s Egg Test for the ocular irritation tests.All the eye drops, except for vancomycin and imipenem, have shown a cytotoxic effect dependent on concentration and time; higher concentrations and longer exposure times will cause a steeper decline in the population of stromal keratocytes. Vancomycin showed a major initial cytotoxic effect, which was reverted over time; and imipenem appeared as a non-toxic compound for stromal cells. The eye drops with the highest irritating effect on the ocular surface were gentamicin and vancomycin.Those antibiotic eye drops prepared at the Hospital Pharmacy Departments included in this study were considered as compounds potentially cytotoxic for the ocular surface; this toxicity was dependent on the concentration used.

Chloride and sulfate salinity differently affect biomass, mineral nutrient composition and expression of sulfate transport and assimilation genes in Brassica rapa

Background and aimsIt remains uncertain whether a higher toxicity of either NaCl or Na2SO4 in plants is due to an altered toxicity of sodium or a different toxicity of the anions. The aim of this study was to determine the contributions of sodium and the two anions to the different toxicities of chloride and sulfate salinity. The effects of the different salts on physiological parameters, mineral nutrient composition and expression of genes of sulfate transport and assimilation were studied.MethodsSeedlings of Brassica rapa L. have been exposed to NaCl, Na2SO4, KCl and K2SO4 to assess the potential synergistic effect of the anions with the toxic cation sodium, as well as their separate toxicities if accompanied by the non-toxic cation potassium. Biomass production, stomatal resistance and Fv/fm were measured to determine differences in ionic and osmotic stress caused by the salts. Anion content (HPLC), mineral nutrient composition (ICP-AES) and gene expression of sulfate transporters and sulfur assimilatory enzymes (real-time qPCR) were analyzed.ResultsNa2SO4 impeded growth to a higher extent than NaCl and was the only salt to decrease Fv/fm. K2SO4 reduced plant growth more than NaCl. Analysis of mineral nutrient contents of plant tissue revealed that differences in sodium accumulation could not explain the increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride salts. Shoot contents of calcium, manganese and phosphorus were decreased more strongly by exposure to Na2SO4 than by NaCl. The expression levels of genes encoding proteins for sulfate transport and assimilation were differently affected by the different salts. While gene expression of primary sulfate uptake at roots was down-regulated upon exposure to sulfate salts, presumably to prevent an excessive uptake, genes encoding for the vacuolar sulfate transporter Sultr4;1 were upregulated. Gene expression of ATP sulfurylase was hardly affected by salinity in shoot and roots, the transcript level of 5′-adenylylsulfate reductase (APR) was decreased upon exposure to sulfate salts in roots. Sulfite reductase was decreased in the shoot by all salts similarly and remained unaffected in roots.ConclusionsThe higher toxicity of Na2SO4 over NaCl in B. rapa seemed to be due to an increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride, as indicated by the higher toxicity of K2SO4 over KCl. Thus, toxicity of sodium was not promoted by sulfate. The observed stronger negative effect on the tissue contents of calcium, manganese and phosphorus could contribute to the increased toxicity of sulfate over chloride. The upregulation of Sultr4;1 and 4;2 under sulfate salinity might lead to a detrimental efflux of stored sulfate from the vacuole into the cytosol and the chloroplasts. It remains unclear why expression of Sultr4;1 and 4;2 was upregulated. A possible explanation is a control of the gene expression of these transporters by the sulfate gradient across the tonoplast.

An effective assessment of valproate sodium-induced hepatotoxicity with UPLC-MS and (1)HNMR-based metabonomics approach.

Valproate sodium is one of the most prescribed antiepileptic drugs. However, valproate sodium has various side effects, especially its toxicity on liver. Current markers for toxicity reflect mostly the late stages of tissue damage; thus, more efficient methods for toxicity evaluation are desired. To evaluate the toxicity of valproate sodium on liver, we performed both UPLC-MS and (1)HNMR-based metabonomics analysis of serum samples from 34 epileptic patients (age: 42.0±18.6, 18 male/16 female) after valproate sodium treatment. Compared to conventional markers, the serum metabolic profiles provided clear distinction of the valproate sodium induced normal liver function and abnormal liver function in epileptic patients. Through multivariate statistical analysis, we identified marker metabolites associated with the hepatotoxicity induced by valproate sodium, such as glucose, lactate, acetoacetate, VLDL/LDL, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, choline, creatine, amino acids, N-acetyl glycoprotein, pyruvate and uric acid. This metabonomics approach may provide effective way to evaluate the valproate sodium-induced toxicity in a manner that can complement current measures. This approach is expected to find broader application in other drug-induced toxicity assessment.

Toxicity of Sodium and Potassium Ions on Performance of UASB System

The objective of this study was to investigate the toxicity of Na+and K+ions on performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system. Three laboratory-scale UASB reactors, 15.8 - l working volume, were employed with 1 reactor operated as control. They were loaded at organic loading rate (OLR) of 5 kg COD/(m3-d), treating synthetic wastewater with COD concentration ~ 5000 mg/l. Na+and K+ions were added in the range of 1010 - 7180 and 41 - 7320 mg/l, respectively. No toxicity was observed at influent Na+and K+concentrations up to 3340 and 2750 mg/l, respectively. Slight inhibitions on COD removal were founded at Na+and K+concentrations of 4610 and 3920 mg/l, respectively, but moderate effect on biogas production had occurred. When Na+and K+concentrations were increased to 7180 and 7320 mg/l, respectively, strong inhibitions were observed with COD removal dropped to 45.5 and 48.8 %, respectively. Ratios of biogas productions, as compared to the control reactor, were dropped to 0.31 and 0.32, respectively. Increasing cation concentrations had more detrimental effect on biogas production than COD removal.

Genome variations account for different response to three mineral elements between Medicago truncatula ecotypes Jemalong A17 and R108.

BackgroundResequencing can be used to identify genome variations underpinning many morphological and physiological phenotypes. Legume model plant Medicago truncatula ecotypes Jemalong A17 (J. A17) and R108 differ in their responses to mineral toxicity of aluminum and sodium, and mineral deficiency of iron in growth medium. The difference may result from their genome variations, but no experimental evidence supports this hypothesis.ResultsA total of 12,750 structure variations, 135,045 short insertions/deletions and 764,154 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified by resequencing the genome of R108. The suppressed expression of MtAACT that encodes a putative aluminum-induced citrate efflux transporter by deletion of partial sequence of the second intron may account for the less aluminum-induced citrate exudation and greater accumulation of aluminum in roots of R108 than in roots of J. A17, thus rendering R108 more sensitive to aluminum toxicity. The higher expression-level of MtZpt2-1 encoding a TFIIIA-related transcription factor in J. A17 than R108 under conditions of salt stress can be explained by the greater number of stress-responsive elements in its promoter sequence, thus conferring J. A17 more tolerant to salt stress than R108 plants by activating the expression of downstream stress-responsive genes. YSLs (Yellow Stripe-Likes) are involved in long-distance transport of iron in plants. We found that an YSL gene was deleted in the genome of R108 plants, thus rendering R108 less tolerance to iron deficiency than J. A17 plants.ConclusionsThe deletion or change in several genes may account for the different responses of M. truncatula ecotypes J. A17 and R108 to mineral toxicity of aluminum and sodium as well as iron deficiency. Uncovering genome variations by resequencing is an effective method to identify different traits between species/ecotypes that are genetically related. These findings demonstrate that analyses of genome variations by resequencing can shed important light on differences in responses of M. truncatula ecotypes to abiotic stress in general and mineral stress in particular.