Essential oils from the aerial parts (leaves, twigs and berries) of Pistacia lentiscus (PLEO) have been well characterized for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; however, poor ...information exists on their potential anticancer activity.
Increasing concentrations of PLEO (0.01-0.1% v/v, 80-800 μg/ml) were administered to a wide variety of cultured cancer cells from breast, cervix, colon, liver, lung, prostate, and thyroid carcinomas. Fibroblasts were also included as healthy control cells. Cell viability was monitored by WST-8 assay up to 72 hours after PLEO administration. The intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the induction of apoptosis, and the enhancement of chemotherapeutic drug cytotoxicity by PLEO were further investigated in the most responsive cancer cell line.
A dose-dependent reduction of tumor cell viability was observed upon PLEO exposure; while no cytotoxic effect was revealed in healthy fibroblasts. FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells were found to be the most sensitive cells to PLEO treatment; accordingly, an intracellular accumulation of ROS and an activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways were evidenced in FTC-133 cells after PLEO administration. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the antineoplastic drugs cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide was enhanced in PLEO-exposed FTC-133 cells.
Taking into account its mode of action, PLEO might be considered as a promising source of natural antitumor agents which might have therapeutic potential in integrated oncology.
The impact of the 24-h ultramarathon race on homocysteine (Hcy) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels, two well-recognized cardiovascular risk factors, has not been deeply investigated. ...Similarly, no information exists on paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an antioxidant enzyme associated with high-density lipoproteins, which may detoxify oxLDL and Hcy-thiolactone, hence preventing their proatherogenic action. Taking this into account, a competitive 24-h ultramarathon race was organized in Reggio-Emilia (Italy) recruiting professional runners (n = 14) from the Italian Ultramarathon and Trail Association. Blood samples were collected from each participant before, during (14 h), and immediately after (24 h) the competition, thus to monitor the serum changes in Hcy, oxLDL, and PON1 levels, as well as other oxidative stress-related parameters, namely reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and total antioxidant capacity (PAT). As a result, a significant PON1 increase was recorded after 14 h of racing that persisted until the end of the performance. The same trend was observed for PAT values, which positively correlated to PON1 levels (R = 0.643, P<0.001). Hcy, oxLDL, and ROM remained almost unchanged throughout the competition. In conclusion, the present study suggested a protective role of PON1 in sustaining the antioxidant defense system and contrasting lipoprotein oxidative modifications over the 24-h race, and did not specifically evidence either Hcy or oxLDL accumulation in such challenging sporting events.
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Copper (Cu), as an essential metal, plays a crucial role in biochemical reactions and in physiological regulations.
Cu in plasma is mostly bound to proteins; about 65–90% of Cu is ...tightly binds with caeruloplasmin and the rest of Cu is loosely binds with albumin and transcuprein. A small but significant relatively “free” fraction, probably complexed with amino acids, is present at around 5% of the total concentration.
We developed and validated a new method for direct measurement of free Cu in serum by ultrafiltration with AMICON®Ultra 100K device and determination with AAS.
Also, we checked that there is no trace of albumin in the ultrafiltrates and we demonstrated the ultrafiltration of a known concentration of Cu added in artificial serum without albumin and, on the contrary, the retention of the Cu in artificial serum with albumin.
The ultrafiltration procedure and the instrumental determination showed a good repeatability and a very low limit of detection (1μg/L).
The method was applied to 30 healthy subjects, the mean value of the total Cu (994.8μg/L) is included in the normal range for healthy people and the values of free Cu (23.6μg/L) corresponding to 2.37% of the Cu total.
The determination of free Cu by this simple and cheap method may be useful to measure the most bioavailable Cu fraction possibly implicated in neuro-degenerative and oxidative-stress related diseases.
A cross-sectional case–control study was carried out to evaluate the concentrations of metallic elements in the hair of 44 children with diagnosis of autism and 61 age-balanced controls. Unadjusted ...comparisons showed higher concentrations of molybdenum, lithium and selenium in autistic children. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the role of risk factor for male gender and showed a slight association with molybdenum concentrations. Unconventional chelation and vitamin-mineral supplementation were ineffective on elemental hair concentrations. A meta-analysis including the present and previous similar studies excluded any association of autism with hair concentrations of mercury, cadmium, selenium, lithium and copper. A slight association was found for lead only, but it was very weak, as strictly dependent on the worst data from one study.
Formaldehyde, a widely used chemical, is considered a human carcinogen. We report the results of a meta-analyses of studies on the relationship between occupational exposure to formaldehyde and risk ...of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to international guidelines and we identified 12 reports of occupational populations exposed to formaldehyde. We evaluated inter-study heterogeneity and we applied a random effects model. We conducted a cumulative meta-analysis and a meta-analysis according to estimated average exposure of each study population.
The meta-analysis resulted in a summary relative risk (RR) for NHL of 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.83-1.04). The cumulative meta-analysis suggests that higher RRs were detected in studies published before 1986, while studies available after 1986 did not show an association. No differences were found between different levels of occupational exposure. Conclusions Notwithstanding some limitations, the results of this meta-analysis do not support the hypothesis of an association between occupational exposure to formaldehyde and risk of NHL.
Loss of sight and sound. Could it be the hip? Rizzetti, Maria Cristina, Dr; Liberini, Paolo, MD; Zarattini, Guido, MD ...
The Lancet (British edition),
03/2009, Letnik:
373, Številka:
9668
Journal Article
Recenzirano
... in April, 2008, resection arthroplasty was done. Cobalt can produce various toxicological effects including local respiratory symptoms due to inhalation of cobalt containing dusts, and systemic ...effects (thyroiditis, cardiomyopathy, erythropoiesis).1 Neuro logical toxicity, mainly optic atrophy, nerve deafness, and limb paraesthesia, has been occasionally reported in association with exogenous exposure.2,3 Neuro logical toxicity as a reult of endogenous exposure (mainly associated with metal prostheses) has been described.4 Cobalt can induce a hypoxia-like effect, possibly targeting mitochondria; of note, our patient's symptoms were similar to those observed in some mitochondrial cytopathies.
Severe poisoning has recently been diagnosed in humans having hip implants composed of cobalt–chrome alloys due to the release of particulate wear debris on polyethylene and ceramic implants which ...stimulates macrophagic infiltration and destroys bone and soft tissue, leading to neurological, sensorial and muscular impairments. Consistent with this premise, in this study, we focused on the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of Co(II) ions on skeletal muscle using mouse skeletal C2C12 myotubes as an in vitro model. As detected using propidium iodide incorporation, increasing CoCl2 doses (from 5 to 200μM) affected the viability of C2C12 myotubes, mainly by cell necrosis, which was attenuated by necrostatin-1, an inhibitor of the necroptotic branch of the death domain receptor signaling pathway. On the other hand, apoptosis was hardly detectable as supported by the lack of caspase-3 and -8 activation, the latter resulting in only faint activation after exposure to higher CoCl2 doses for prolonged time points. Furthermore, CoCl2 treatment resulted in atrophy of the C2C12 myotubes which was characterized by the increased expression of HSP25 and GRP94 stress proteins and other typical `pro-atrophic molecular hallmarks, such as early activation of the NF-kB pathway and down-regulation of AKT phosphorylation, followed by the activation of the proteasome and autophagy systems. Overall, these results suggested that cobalt may impact skeletal muscle homeostasis as an inducer of cell necrosis and myofiber atrophy.
•The effects of cobalt on muscle myofibers in vitro were investigated.•Cobalt treatment mainly causes cell necrosis in skeletal C2C12 myotubes.•Cobalt impacts the PI3K/AKT and NFkB pathways and induces cell stress markers.•Cobalt induces atrophy of C2C12 myotubes through the activation of proteasome and autophagy systems.•Co treatment triggers NF-kB and PI3K/AKT pathways in C2C12 myotubes.
The well-documented relationship between sperm oxidation and male infertility strongly encourages the development of assays for reactive oxygen species detection in semen samples. The present study ...aims to apply the microplate-based 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay to the evaluation of oxidative stress in unprocessed whole semen, thus avoiding sample centrifugations and other manipulations that may cause significant reactive oxygen species increments.
The fluorescence assay consisted in the quantification of both intracellular and extracellular reactive oxygen species levels in unwashed semen specimens by using the probe 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate into a 96-well plate. The method was useful for the preliminary assessment of the oxidation levels of whole semen samples from men undergoing standard sperm analysis as well as to evaluate the effect of some pro-glutathione molecules on semen oxidative status.
The 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay was successfully adapted to the evaluation of oxidative stress in whole semen, effectively revealing the perturbation of the redox homeostasis of the sample. Accordingly, specimens with abnormal sperm parameters (n = 10) presented oxidation indexes significantly higher than those with normospermia (n = 10) 7729 (range 3407–12769) vs. 1356 (range 470–2711), p < 0.001; in addition, semen oxidation indexes negatively correlated to sperm motility and morphology. Noteworthy, whole semen exposure to pro-glutathione compounds led to reduced semen oxidation levels and sperm protection against oxidative damage.
Based on our pilot experimental data, the microplate-based 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay appears to be a convenient method for the detection of reactive oxygen species levels in whole semen samples, avoiding artifacts due to semen centrifugation steps. At the same time, the test could be a helpful tool for the basic and quick screening of antioxidant molecules able to preserve semen quality.
2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate; Male infertility; Microplate fluorescence reader; Oxidative stress; Pro-glutathione molecules; Reactive oxygen species; Unwashed whole semen.
The characteristics of aerosol, in particular particle size and chemical composition, can have an impact on human health. Particle size distribution and chemical composition is a necessary parameter ...in occupational exposure assessment conducted in order to understand possible health effects. The aim of this study was to characterize workplace airborne particulate matter in a metallurgical setting by synergistically using two different approaches; Methodology: Analysis of inhalable fraction concentrations through traditional sampling equipment and ultrafine particles (UFP) concentrations and size distribution was conducted by an Electric Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI+™). The determination of metallic elements (ME) in particles was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Results: Inhalable fraction and ME concentrations were below the limits set by Italian legislation and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, 2017). The median of UFP was between 4.00 × 10⁴ and 2.92 × 10⁵ particles/cm³. ME concentrations determined in the particles collected by ELPI show differences in size range distribution; Conclusions: The adopted synergistic approach enabled a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the particles in steelmaking factories. The results could lead to a better knowledge of occupational exposure characterization, in turn affording a better understanding of occupational health issues due to metal fumes exposure.
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