Trace element changes in the pancreas during viral infection in mice.

Soil pH is one of the main factors influencing the solubility and availability of trace elements in arable soils. Thus pH can affect the trace element contents of agricultural crops and thereby indirectly influence human health. The aim of this study was to determine Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Al and Se contents in spring wheat, potatoes and carrots (Cd, Ni and Zn) and estimate their correlations with certain soil factors (surface and subsurface soil pH and organic matter content) governing the plant availability of these elements. Commercial fields were sampled in Sweden in order to cover a wide range of soil types with respect to pH, soil texture and organic matter content. Concentrations of Zn, Mn, Ni (grain) and Cd (straw) in spring wheat (n=43); Cd, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu and Al in potatoes (n=69); and Cd, Ni and Zn in carrots (n=36) showed significant negative correlations with surface soil pH (0–25 cm). The Se content of potatoes and Cr content of spring wheat straw were positively correlated with soil pH. Stepwise multiple regressions including a combination of soil pHs (0–25 and 25–50 cm) and organic matter contents (0–25 cm) showed that the organic matter content as well as the surface and subsurface soil pH significantly influenced concentrations of several trace elements in one or more of the studied crops. It was concluded that, if acid deposition together with other acidifying processes (fertilisation, harvest of biomass, etc.) are not balanced by a sufficient amount of liming there might be a decrease in the pH of arable soils, which, in turn will lead to decreased levels of Se in edible crops but an overall increase concentrations of other trace elements.

Interannual patterns of variation in concentrations of trace elements in arms of Octopus vulgaris

Актуальность мониторинга содержания тяжёлых металлов в водах Атлантического сектора Антарктики определяется необходимостью современной оценки качества водной среды для принятия ответственных решений по сохранению морских живых ресурсов в этом уникальном регионе Мирового океана. Цель проводимых исследований — получить новые данные об уровнях и пространственном распределении концентрации микроэлементов, преимущественно тяжёлых металлов, в поверхностной воде. Отбор проб поверхностной морской воды производили в антарктической экспедиции 79-го рейса НИС «Академик Мстислав Келдыш» на 21 станции в районе проливов Дрейка, Брансфилда, Антарктика, а также в морях Уэдделла и Скотия. Экстракцию и концентрирование растворённой формы 13 микроэлементов (Be, Se, Sb, Tl, V, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Mo, Co и Fe) осуществляли с помощью диэтилдитиокарбамата натрия и четырёххлористого углерода (CCl4). Измерение элементов проводили масс-спектрометрическим методом. Только для Mo на девяти станциях, расположенных в проливах Дрейка и Брансфилда, в северном районе моря Уэдделла, а также возле южного побережья острова Огненная Земля, отмечали превышение его концентрации в морской воде в 1,2–2,8 раза по отношению к ПДК микроэлементов в воде рыбохозяйственных объектов РФ (ПДКРХ). Согласно международным нормативно-правовым актам, таким как «Голландские листы», зарегистрированы единичные случаи превышения MPC (maximum permissible concentration — ПДК при краткосрочном воздействии) для Cd и Zn, а также превышение TV (target value — контрольные уровни при хроническом воздействии) для Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Se и Co на нескольких станциях. Исследования показали, что, несмотря на ограниченный режим антропогенной нагрузки в этом регионе Южного океана, в морской воде отдельных районов Атлантического сектора Антарктики в современный период зафиксированы повышенные концентрации некоторых микроэлементов, включая тяжёлые металлы. Необходимо дальнейшее изучение источников поступления и особенностей распределения микроэлементов в морских водах Атлантической части Антарктики для объяснения происходящих процессов, а также для принятия мер по рациональному управлению и экологически приемлемому природопользованию в Антарктическом регионе.

Trace element concentrations in breast cancer patients

The aim of this work was to study the short-term effect of clear-cut harvest on concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), B, Al, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb in drainage water from northern peatland catchments in Finland underlain by granitic or black shale bedrock, the latter having higher concentrations of several trace elements, such as Ni and Zn. Stem-only harvest (SOH) or whole-tree harvest (WTH) with stump removal were carried out at coniferous sites. Controls were left unharvested. DOC and trace element concentrations were monitored during one pre-treatment and two post-treatment years. There was no constant increase in the element concentrations. However, there were signs that both SOH and WTH clear-cut harvest on northern peatland catchments increases the concentrations of DOC, B, Al, Zn and Ni in ditchwater in some sites irrespective of the bedrock type. The greatest increases were observed in WTH sites but the study does not allow us to assess the statistical significance of the magnitude of the difference between SOH and WTH. We conclude that the element concentrations in ditchwater depend largely on site characteristics masking the possible effect of harvest.

BackgroundThe mechanism of atherogenesis is not yet fully understood despite intense study in this area. The effects of high fat diet (HFD) on the changes of trace elements [iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)] in several tissues of rabbits have not been documented before. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate the changes in trace elements in several tissues of rabbits fed on HFD for a period of feeding of 10 weeks.ResultsThe HFD group was fed a NOR rabbit chow supplemented with 1.0% cholesterol plus 1.0% olive oil. Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were measured in four types of tissue from control and HFD rabbits using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Comparing HFD rabbits to control rabbits, we found that the highest percentage change of increase of Fe was 95% in lung tissue, while the lowest percentage change of increase of Fe was 7% in kidney tissue; the highest percentage change of decrease of Cu was 16% in aortic tissue, while the lowest percentage change of decrease of Cu was 6% in kidney tissue; and the highest percentage change of decrease of Zn was 71% in kidney tissue, while the lowest percentage change of decrease of Zn was 8% in lung tissue.ConclusionsThese results suggest that Fe plays a major role in atherogenesis; it may accelerate the process of atherosclerosis probably through the production of free radicals, deposition and absorption of intracellular and extracellular lipids in the intima, connective tissue formation, smooth muscle proliferation, lower matrix degradation capacity and increased plaque stability. Furthermore, inducing anemia in HFD rabbits may delay or inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. Cu plays a minor role in atherogenesis and Cu supplements may inhibit the progression of atherogenesis, perhaps by reducing the migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to the intima. Zn plays a major role in atherogenesis and that it may act as an endogenous protective factor against atherosclerosis perhaps by reducing lesion Fe content, intracellular and extracellular lipids in the intima, connective tissue formation, and smooth muscle proliferation. These results suggest that it may be possible to use the measurement of changes in trace elements in different tissues of rabbits as an important risk factor during the progression of atherosclerosis.

Trace elements have been implicated in cancer, since the levels differ between cancerous and noncancerous tissue, different cancer types, and different malignancy grades. However, few studies have been conducted on trace element concentrations in brain tumors. Thus, this study aims to review the available literature on trace element changes related to brain tumors, and to identify gaps in the literature. A literature search was done on Google Scholar and PubMed from their start date to January 2018, using terms related to trace element concentration and brain tumors. All brain tumor types were included, and articles could be published in any year. From this search, only 11 articles on this topic could be found. Tumors had significantly higher concentrations of arsenic, thorium, lanthanum, lutetium, cerium, and gadolinium compared to control brain samples. Compared to adjacent tissue, tumor tissue indicated increased magnesium, decreased copper, and contradicting results for zinc. Furthermore, the higher the malignancy grade, the lower the calcium, cadmium, iron, phosphorus and sulfur concentration, and the higher the mercury, manganese, lead, and zinc concentrations. In conclusion, altered trace element levels differ amongst different tumor types, as well as malignancy grades. Consequently, it is impossible to compare data from these studies, and available data are still considerably inconclusive. Ideally, future studies should have a sufficient samples size, compare different tumor types, and compare tumors with adjacent healthy tissue as well as with samples from unaffected matched brains. Anat Rec, 303:1293-1299, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

A method is proposed by which the significance of the differences between trace element concentrations of sample and control can be estimated without detailed knowledge of the distribution in the total population. Both sample and control are cut in half and the trace element concentrations of all four pieces are determined. The concentration values of the two halves of each sample are compared with each other and so are the concentration values of the two samples. This cross-comparison is essentially the application of Student's t-test to the smallest possible number of data. The calculation is reduced to a simple formula, and tables of confidence limits are not needed. The implications of lack of general background knowledge are discussed. Since it cannot always be known whether a certain trace element follows a normal or log-normal distribution pattern, or whether simultaneously determined concentrations of several trace elements are correlated with each other, the most cautious estimate of the significance is recommended.

Since the end of 2019, the emergence of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has accelerated the research on host immune responses toward the coronaviruses. When there is no approved drug or vaccine to use against these culprits, host immunity is the major strategy to fight such infections. Type I interferons are an integral part of the host innate immune system and define one of the first lines of innate immune defense against viral infections. The in vitro antiviral role of type I IFNs against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) is well established. Moreover, the involvement of type I IFNs in disease pathology has also been reported. In this study, we have reviewed the protective and the immunopathogenic role of type I IFNs in the pathogenesis of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. This review will also enlighten the potential implications of type I IFNs for the treatment of COVID-19 when used in combination with IFN-γ.

4][5][6] Many other viruses have since been shown to cause myocarditis and its long-term sequelae, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure.By example, adenovirus, herpesviruses, and influenza can cause myocarditis in humans and models of heart failure.Because immune cell infiltration is an easily seen feature of myocarditis, it is perhaps not surprising that the inflammatory response would be posited as a major cause of tissue injury during viral myocarditis.However, the virus itself has lytic and destructive potential, and a range of data indicate both viral and immune contributions to cardiomyocyte and interstitial damage during myocarditis.The question is often posed: Is damage primarily virus-mediated or more so the product of an overzealous immune response and autoimmunity?Perhaps the greatest error in the discussion has been approaching these 2 facets of the disease process in a mutually exclusive manner.Shi et al 7 now show in this issue of Circulation that virus replication and the immune response are exquisitely intertwined in myocarditis pathogenesis.

Investigating post-depositional alteration of trace elements in fish scales using tagged and recaptured wild salmon

The study was undertaken to determine the effects of various substances (manure, clay, charcoal, zeolite, and calcium oxide) applied to a cobalt-contaminated soil (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg kg−1 of soil) on the content of certain trace elements in spring barley (main crop) and white mustard (after-crop). The effect of cobalt on the contents of the trace elements was ambiguous and was either antagonistic or synergistic in nature, depending on the organ and plant species. Generally, the substances applied to soil reduced the content of most trace elements in above-ground parts of both plants and in the roots of white mustard, in contrast to the roots of spring barley. Of all the substances, calcium oxide had the strongest and generally reducing effect on the content of trace elements in the tested organs of the plants; however, its effect was the weakest in the roots of white mustard. Statement of Novelty It is difficult to find in the literature the results of studies into the effect of mineral and other amendments used in our research (manure, clay, charcoal, zeolite, and calcium oxide) on trace elements content in plants if they are used with a view to weakening the effect of cobalt on plants. We think that it is the novelty in the results of environmental sciences. The literature refer to the application of organic matter, bentonite, zeolite and calcium oxide to neutralize other heavy metals. The research was carried out in the two plants system used for phytoremediation with main crop (spring barley—Hordeum vulgare L.) and after-crop (white mustard—Synapis alba L.). The trace elements were analyzed in test plants. The results of the research allowed to select the most effective substance to support the phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cobalt.

Royal jelly (RJ) is commercially harvested after the 4th day of queen larval age. In the current study, it was harvested after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after grafting of 1-day larval age queens to investigate changes in macro and trace elements associated with harvesting time. The RJ yields were significantly affected by harvest time, and the highest yield was obtained 72 hours after grafting. The highest phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) contents were obtained from RJ harvested 24 hours after grafting. Royal jelly harvested 48 hours after grafting had the highest concentrations of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). Likewise, RJ harvested 96 hours after grafting had higher concentrations of copper (Cu). Royal jelly harvested 72 hours after grafting showed the second rank for P, Mg, Ca, K, Na, Fe, Cu, and Mn concentrations. In descending order, P, Mg, Ca, and K were the most dominant elements in RJ harvested at different times after grafting. The Mg, Ca, K, Na, Cu, and Mn concentrations in RJ were all positively correlated, and P, Fe, and Zn were positively correlated. The P and Zn were negatively correlated with Ca, Cu, and Mn. It was concluded that macro and trace element contents in RJ can differ depending on the harvest time after grafting. We recommend harvesting RJ at 72 hours after grafting for possible use as healthy nutritional human food supplement.

Investigation presented is devoted to the problem of ecological and geochemical assessing of surface and near-surface waters of Kyiv (on the example of Sunny Lake, Lower Telbin Lake and shallow groundwater of Vodnykiv Island). As part of an ongoing assessment of the ecological-hygienic and medico-biological state of Kyiv, a set of surface water and shallow groundwater samples was collected and analysed (ICP-MS) for major and trace-element concentrations. Surface-water samples included two lakes that are popular recreation sites. Although all waters had near-neutral pH, concentrations of several trace elements were found to be above the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) in Sunny Lake (Sb to 63 mg/dm3, Mn to mg/dm3) and Lower Telbin Lake (Al to 4,0 mg/dm3, Fe to 1,4 mg/dm3, As to 50 mg/dm3). Shallow groundwater samples had highly elevated concentrations of Fe (to 16,3 mg/dm3) and Mn (to 2,6 mg/dm3), as well as dissolved organic acids (to 25 mg/dm3). Two primary controls were established to explain the observed peculiarities in water quality: 1) water residence time coupled with the underlying geology; and 2) proximity to industrial effluent, including incineration and wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, lake-bed sediment was locally contaminated (e.g., lead up to 100 times the MPC). Preliminary data on the metal content of aquatic vegetation suggests a potential threat to human health and the environment. As a whole, our data show that the sampled water bodies fail to meet minimum requirements for category II (cultural, household, recreational) use. Although other water bodies in the area meet category II standards, continued loading of bio-organic and man-made inorganic pollutants may degrade water quality in the future. This situation can only be avoided by the introduction of scientifically sound and administratively supported reclamation measures which are at the moment slowly implementing in Ukraine.

Alcohol consumption can affect the brain due to an elevation in oxidative stress and inflammation. Alcoholism influences the brain homeostasis and is often associated with cognitive, emotional and behavioral changes. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to poor sleep quality, and individuals with alcohol use disorder generally develop insomnia. Alcohol use affects the expression of clock genes, altering the physiological and immune function regulated by the biological clock, and hence elevating the production of reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to explore the alterations in neurobehavioral function associated with circadian disturbance and alcohol exposure, and to understand the potential therapeutic effect of methylsulfonylmethane on alcohol-administered and circadian-disrupted C57BL/6J mice. The sleep cycle of the mice was disturbed by 10h light/10h dark exposure, and 25% w/v alcohol was administered to the mice intragastrically. The concentration of trace elements in the mouse brain was measured using Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). An increase in anxiety-like behavior was observed in the mice exposed to alcohol and the circadian-disrupted groups. The administration of the drug significantly increased the expression of core clock genes in the alcohol and circadian-disrupted group. The levels of calcium and iron were increased in the MSM-administered mice, reversing the effects of circadian disruption and the alcohol-exposed group of mice. Our findings suggest that alcohol and circadian disturbance impact neurological function through alterations in immune homeostasis. MSM treatment can improve the expression of clock genes in alcohol and circadian-disrupted conditions, highlighting its neuroprotective potential by reducing inflammation.