- الرئيسية
- وقائع المؤتمر
- QScience Proceedings
- وقائع المؤتمر
Sixth International Conference on Environmental Mutagens in Human Populations
- تاريخ المؤتمر: 26-29 Mar 2012
- الموقع: Qatar National Convention Center, Doha, Qatar
- رقم المجلد: 2012
- المنشور: ٠١ مارس ٢٠١٢
81 - 100 of 107 نتائج
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Spatial Distribution of Mental Retardation in Iran
المؤلفون: Ali GoliAbstractMedical geography applies the theory, methods and analysis tools of geography science to the study of human health, disease and health care systems. As the Geographic Information System (GIS) has evolved since the mid-twentieth century, its uses have spread in geographic-related knowledge. Medical geography also uses GIS in the study and analysis of health and diseases researches. Mental retardation (MR) is a subset of developmental delay (DD), a broader classification of childhood disability. Spatial analysis is useful for the identification of areas with MR people. Identification of clusters based on MR provides an important tool to investigate risk exposures. However, even though MR is a substantial public health problem, there are no previous analyses of spatial clustering of MR using individual case data. In this paper, we examine the use of the spatial analysis approach in the analysis of MR clustering. We used data from the 2006 census, which addresses the amount of MR data available on a county level. MR cases with unknown causes were identified in the study population. Local statistic indices were used to identify spatial clusters of MR, the corresponding P-value for each geo-coded location, and the P-value surface contoured as a heat image to identify the MR clusters. The characteristics of the study population were analyzed using Moran's I value and Getis-Ord Gi statistic and the results confirm that clustering does occur for MR. The shapes of the identified MR clusters were found in counties with a high illiteracy percentage. Also MR cluster were discovered in counties with a high rate of residence in rural areas.
Keywords: Mental retardation / mMedical geography / Spatial analysis / Local statistic indices / Spatial cluster.
Ali Goli, Assistant professor, Sociology and Social Planning Department, Social Science Faculty, Shiraz University, Shiraz
EMail: [email protected]
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Response of Ficus nitida plants to Mycorrhizal Fungi, Ascorbic Acid and Fe- EDTA for Decreasing the Harmful Effect of Lead Pollution
المؤلفون: Abdullah Hussein TahishAbstractThis study was carried out at the Floriculture Nursery of the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University during 2005-2007 to investigate the effect of some treatments on Ficus nitida plants grown in polluted soil with Pb. Lead concentrations in soil (0, 500, 1000, 2000 ppm) in 1st stage and (0, 500, 2500, 5000 ppm) in 2nd stage caused changes in growth characters and chemical composition of Ficus nitida plants. Decreases in plant height, root length, branch numbers, leaf numbers and leaf areas, as well as fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, were obtained in the two different stages of growth. Also, lead caused decrement in chl.a, chl.b, total carotenoids, catalase activity and micronutrients concentration, while increment in total sugars, total soluble phenols and free amino acids concentration, as well as peroxidase and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were recorded in plant leaves under lead treatment compared with control in the two stages. On the other hand, a reverse trend in two stages was recorded by the plants treated with mycorrhiza fungi (500 and 1,000 spores) soil addition, Fe-EDTA (130 and 260 ppm) and ascorbic acid (250 and 500 ppm) foliar application under lead soil pollution. These treatments, can overcome, to some extent, the hazard effect of lead on Ficus nitida plants.
Key words: Fe- EDTA / Ficus nitida / Lead / Mycorrhizal fungi / Ascorbic acid.
Dr Abdullah Hussein Tahish, Forests and Horticulture Department—Faculty of Agriculture, Sana'a University
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Treatment of an Endocrine Disruption Pesticide by Microbial Biodegradation Process
المؤلفون: Amina Hellal BenateyaAbstractPesticides are widely used in agriculture to control a variety of pernicious organisms that spoil the crops. Nevertheless, low amounts of some residues may persist in the food supply, air, water and soil and could constitute a significant hazard pathway for humans. Most pesticides are classified by the World Health Organization as hazardous, and several widely used pesticides are known as potential Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bifenthrin insecticide, widely used in agriculture, constitutes a major environmental problem, because of its high toxicity and its persistence in the environment. It is now well established that Bifenthrin interferes with the action of female sex hormones, causing reductions in ovary weight and lack of oestrus and it decreases the level of thyroid hormones present in the blood. Bioremediation is a pollution control technology that uses biological systems to catalyze the degradation or transformation of various toxic chemicals. The present study involves the isolation of bacterial and fungal cultures metabolizing bifenthrin pesticide from soil having previously exposed to the pesticide. The biodegradation of bifenthrin insecticide was studied using these indigenous isolated fungi (Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer) and bacteria (Aeromonas sp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The biodegradability was evaluated by the manometric respirometry test (OECD method 301F). The results showed that the evolution of biomass, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) can highlight the biodegradation phenomenon. Maximum degrading potential was revealed by the fungi strains Aspergillus niger with 82.5% and Rhizopus stolonifer with 73.7% against 6 to11% for bacteria. The determined factorial design model successfully described the bifenthrin biodegradation phenomenon by the studied fungi. Therefore, the fungal strains might be useful for bioremediation of this endocrine disruption pesticide-contaminated environment.
Keywords: Endocrine disruption pesticide / Bifenthrin / Microbial biodegradation.
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No Oxidative Stress or Genotoxicity in Patients under Isoflurane or Propofol Anesthesia
المؤلفون: Daisy SalvadoriAbstractOxidative stress is characterized by the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidant production. It is known that ROS can cause DNA lesions, which may be related to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. However, little is known about the lipoperoxidation, antioxidant capacity and oxidative DNA damage in patients undergoing inhaled anesthetic isoflurane (ISF) or the intravenous anesthetic propofol (PF) during surgical procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of isoflurane and propofol anesthesia on DNA, lipoperoxidation and on the antioxidant capacity in patients undergoing elective surgery lasting at least 120 minutes. The Ethical Committee of the Institution approved the protocol of the study, which included 30 adult patients (both genders, 18-50 years old) classified by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as physical status I (healthy patient with no disease other than a surgical abnormality), and who were scheduled for otorhinological surgery. Patients were randomized to receive general anesthesia with propofol (n=15) or isoflurane anesthesia (n=15). Blood samples were drawn before anesthesia (T1-baseline) and 120 minutes after the beginning of anesthesia (T2). Lymphocytes were isolated and comet assay was performed using OGG1 enzyme to detect oxidative DNA damage. Both malondialdehyde (MDA), which is a potential biomarker of oxidative stress (one of the end products of lipoperoxidation), and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity were evaluated in plasma by using a fluorescent plate reader. Despite an increased hydrophilic antioxidant capacity during anesthesia in both groups (ISF and PF), and decreased amount of oxidative DNA lesions at T2, differences between T1 and T2 were not statistically significant. Also MDA levels did not change between T1 and T2 moments or between the groups. In conclusion, none of the anesthetics (propofol or isoflurane) led to oxidative stress or caused oxidative DNA damage in ASA I patients undergoing surgical procedure.
Financial support: FAPESP (grant number 2010/05611-0) Salvadori DMF1, Braz MG1, Freire CM1, Braz LG2, Ferreira ALA3, Braz JRC2
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Evaluation of Genotoxicity of Medicaments in Sick Patients
المؤلفون: Kemajl KurteshiAbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxicity of medication in bucall cells, used in chemotherapy of sick patients with lung cancer. Following chemotherapy treatment, samples were taken five, 10 and 15 days afterwards, with cytobrush, and placed in a ringer solution. Samples were taken from 30 patients suffering from lung cancer; The control group consisted of 30 subjects. A high frequency of micronuclei in exfoliated bucall cells were found after treatment wih medication, but they were not statistically significant. According to this result, we can conclude that chemotherapy induces the micronuclei in bucall cells of patients lung cancer.
Keywords: Genotoxicity / Medicaments / Hospital / Lung
Kemajl Kurteshi, Kasum Letaj, Muharrem Ismaili, Zeqir Shaqiri
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In Vitro Cancer Chemopreventive Properties of Polysaccharide Extract from the Brown Alga, Sargassum Latifolium
المؤلفون: Mona AbozeidAbstractPolysaccharides of edible algae attracted extensive interest due to their numerous biological activities. Sargassum latifolium (Turner) C. Agardh, belongs to Sargassaceae, is —a brown algae found in Egyptian Red Sea shores. This work is a novel attempt to explore the cancer chemopreventive activity of different fractions of water-soluble polysaccharide extract derived from S. latifolium. Estimation of cancer chemopreventive activity, specifically anti-initiation, including the modulation of carcinogen metabolism and the antioxidant capacity, revealed that E1 and E4 were potent anti-initiators, where they lead not only to an inhibition in the carcinogen activator cytochrome P450 1A (IC50 2.54 and 10.30 µg/ml, respectively), but also to an induction in the carcinogen detoxification enzymes glutathione-S-transferases (144 percent and 225 percent of the control, respectively). E1 and E4 inhibited 59 percent and 63 percent of the induced-DNA damage, as measured by comet assay. Similarly both E1 and E4 possessed potential anti-promoting properties as indicated by their anti-inflammatory activity. E1 and E4 enhanced the macrophage proliferation; however they dramatically inhibited the stimulated NO (30.7percent and 59.3 percent), TNF-a (38.2 percent and 54.9) and COX-2 (20 percent and 18 percent), respectively. E3 showed a selective cytotoxicity against lymphoblastic leukemia (1301 cells), while other fraction extracts had no cytotoxic effect against all tested cell lines. E3 led to a major disturbance in cell cycle including arrest in both S-phases in 1301 cells. This disturbance was associated with an induced-cell death due to apoptosis, but not necrosis.
In conclusion, E1 and E4 are promising cancer chemopreventive fractions, since they had tumor anti- initiating activity via their protective modulation of carcinogen metabolism, and tumor anti-promoting activity via their anti-inflammatory activity, while E3 can be considered as a promising anti-cancer agent against leukemia.
Keywords: Sargassum latifolium / Cytochrome P450 / Cancer chemoprevention / Anti-initiating / Anti promoting / Apoptosis.
Amira M. Gamal-Eldeen a, Eman F. Ahmed b, Mona A. Abo-Zeid c
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Antagonistic Role of Selenium against Hepatotoxic Effects of Nicl2 in Preimplanted Wistar Albino Rats
المؤلفون: Ounassa AdjroudAbstractNickel, a potent toxic metal, is very harmful to the environment and to humans because of its in vivo accumulation in liver. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of selenium (Se) against nickel toxicity on liver function in preimplanted Wistar albino rats. NiCl2 was given on day three of pregnancy either in distilled drinking water at a dose of 20 mg/L/day) for 16 consecutive days or as a single s.c. dose of 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg. Se was given as an s.c. injection (0.3 mg/kg) together with the higher dose (100 mg/kg) of NiCl2. Changes in plasma glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol were measured in treated and control groups on days five and 20 of gestation. NiCl2 s.c. induced on day five of gestation showed a significant (<0.05) decrease in plasma triglycerides, with a dose of 100 mg / kg (-48 percent). This decrease was maintained at day 20 of gestation with doses of 50 mg / kg (-36 percent) and 100 mg / kg (-31 percent). In contrast, the low dose induced an increase of + 50 percent in plasma triglyceride compared to controls. In addition, NiCl2 s.c. caused on day five of gestation a significant decrease (p <0.05) in plasma total cholesterol with the low (-50 percent) and medium doses (-26 percent). However, the dose of 100 mg / kg induced a significant increase (114 percent) in plasma total cholesterol on day 20 of gestation compared to controls. NiCl2 s.c. induced a significant increase in plasma glucose (+125 percent) on day 20 of pregnancy. The pretreatment with Se counteracted the effects of NiCl2 on plasma glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides.
NiCl2 administered in the drinking water induced a significant increase (<0.05) in plasma triglycerides (+68 percent) and cholesterol (+49 percent) on day 20 of gestation, while on day five of gestation NiCl2 s.c. induced a significant decrease in cholesterol (-31 percent) compared to controls. All doses of NiCl2 induced an alteration of liver architecture. Co-administration of Se with NiCl2 restored the structure of the liver.
These results suggested that selenium has a hepatoprotective role against the toxicity induced by NiCl2 administered subcutaneously in preimplanted rats. .
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Health Hazards faced by Women Beedi Rollers
المؤلفون: Shahla YasminAbstractHealth problems of 197 female beedi rollers were studied in Patna, Bihar, India to ascertain the effects of beedi rolling on hematological parameters, liver function and on the eyes, respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. The study found that more than 70 percent of the beedi rollers suffered from eye, gastrointestinal and nervous problems while more than 50 percent of the respondents suffered from respiratory problems, mostly throat burning and cough. More than 75 percent of the respondents faced osteological problems. Total RBC, WBC and platelet counts of the beedi rollers were significantly lower in comparison to the control subjects. Differential leucocyte count showed significantly risen lymphocytes and eosinophils and lowered neutrophils and monocytes in the beedi rollers as compared to the control group. Hemoglobin levels were lower among beedi rollers compared to the control group. SGPT (ALT) enzyme concentration, a parameter of liver dysfunction, was significantly increased in the beedi rollers compared to the control group. The study revealed that women beedi rollers face numerous health problems possibly due to direct inhalation of tobacco flakes and dust. .
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Preference of Human Biological Samples for Exposure Assessment of Elemental Pollution and Health Implication
المؤلفون: Sukumar AthimoolamAbstractThe compounds of nickel, arsenic, cobalt, beryllium, thallium, aluminum, lead, mercury, zirconium and cadmium exert pronounced comutagenic effects, by disturbing DNA repair and interfering with base and nucleotide excision repair. These elements can be widely dispersed throughout the environment as a result of fossil fuel combustion, industrial and agricultural processes and natural processes. The potential mobilization of these toxic trace metals and metalloids in our environment, pose health hazards, in particular, children exposed to metals are more susceptible to DNA damage. A number of human samples: hair, nails, blood, urine, teeth, saliva, perspiration, milk and semen were analyzed for levels of trace elements to compare with the presence or absence of micronuclei in peripheral blood leucocytes and disturbances of DNA repair systems. The ranges of lead, nickel and cadmium are found in urine, blood, teeth, hair and nails of general subjects from Mysore, India, and the absence of micronuclei levels in their peripheral blood samples, indicated that the elemental levels were below the threshold limit and that there is a need for reference values of these elements measured in the biosamples with the micronuclei assessment for confirmation and assurance. The literature was reviewed, and the reference values of mutagenic elements for biosamples was presented and discussed. .
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Elevated Serum Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Alteration of Thyroid Hormones in Children from Guiyu, China
المؤلفون: Junxiao LiuAbstractOur objective was to explore the thyroid hormones (TH), and problems related to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants exposure in children in an electronic waste recycling town of Guiyu. We determined blood PBDE levels, by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, in 145 children, aged four to six years old, from Guiyu, China. Three THs were also measured. The geometric mean (95 percent CI) of the total PBDE (∑PBDE) was 162.98 (141.25-186.21) ng/g lipid for Guiyu children. The concentration of ∑PBDE exceeded 100ng/g lipid of Guiyu children was 79 percent (115 children). The serum free T3 (median 5.73, range 3.80-7.71 pmol/L) and serum free T4 (median 15.91, range 8.89-22.45 pmol/L) in high PBDE exposure group (300.1-583.0 ng/g lipid of ∑PBDEs) were lower than in the control group (0-100.0 ng/g lipid of ∑PBDEs), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in high PBDE exposure group was higher than in the control (all P< 0.05). The TH levels were correlated with most of the PBDE concentrations. Residence adjacent to e-waste workshops, as determined by the questionnaire, was an independent predictor of the free T3 levels, and the house as a family workshop was a significant predictor of the free T4 (all P<0.05). Residence adjacent to e-waste workshops and the house as a family workshop were associated with serum TSH (all P< 0.05). These results suggest that elevated child PBDE levels in Guiyu, may threaten child health, with implications for altered child TH levels, due to informal e-waste recycling activities.
Junxiao Liu, Xijin Xu, Yuanping Wang, Qiongna Xiao, Xia Huo .
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Water Sanitation and Hygiene Correlation with Human Health Problems in Georgia
المؤلفون: Kakha NadiradzeAbstractAccess to safe drinking water and sanitation is essential for the protection and promotion of health. It is a basic human right, and a key component of an effective public health delivery system. The importance of community water supply and sanitation as a key health and development issue, has been highlighted in a number of international policy forums in Georgia. In terms of priority environmental conditions, diarrhoea and dysentery still constitute major health problems for some villages. The study conducted by AFRD attempted to gauge the perceptions and level of awareness of the respondents on the following issues to assess the impact on the personal hygiene practices and overall health and disease burden on the following issues: upkeep of personal hygiene, safe storage and handling of drinking water, home and food sanitation, safe disposal of human excreta, safe disposal of solid wastes, safe disposal of liquid wastes, sanitation in the community. An attempt was made to measure the perceptions and level of awareness by questions defining each of the issues mentioned above. In order to analyse the overall trend, a public health awareness score was worked out for all the sample respondents.
Dr Kakha Nadiradze, President AFRD, Mrs. Nana Phirosmanashvili, Researcher AFRD Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD email; [email protected] .
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Pesticides as an Environmental Health Risk Factor in Children Living in Agricultural Areas - Exposure Science in Public Health
المؤلفون: Lucyna Kapka-SkrzypczakAbstractThe seasonal accessibility and stability of pesticides by spreading and/or decomposing result in the migration and deposition of these products to all elements of the environment. In the context of a complex, multi-factor chemical hypersensitivity, the presence of pesticides in the environment and their long-term negative effects is an important factor in the health condition of the population living in areas of intensive pesticide use. Aside from the adult population, the rural child population is especially exposed. The constant exposure of children to even low concentrations of pesticides may lead to permanent health disorders and limits to their development. A child’s exposure already starts during the prenatal period of development, when toxic substances, including pesticides and their metabolites penetrate through the placental barrier into the foetus, which may inhibit intrauteral growth and contribute to the reduction in the duration of pregnancy or lower birth weight. Children absorb toxic substances via the respiratory and alimentary route more easily than adults, discharge xenobionts cumulated in the body more slowly, have a quicker pace of metabolic change, and their physiology is constantly developing. Therefore, it is advisable to evaluate the effect of environmental exposure of pesticides to children living in areas where there is intensive use of plant protection products. Key words: Pesticides / Environmental Exposure / Children / Biomarkers
LUCYNA KAPKA-SKRZYPCZAK, MAŁGORZATA CYRANKA, MACIEJ SKRZYPCZAK, MARCIN KRUSZEWSKI .
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Environmental and Occupational Health Impacts for Tobacco Cultivation: A Case Study on a Developing Country (Bangladesh)
المؤلفون: Shahriar RahmanAbstractBangladesh is an agriculture-based country. However, nowadays, tobacco cultivation has increased significantly (about 65 percent) in the last few years compared to other cereal crops. Tobacco cultivation has an impact not only by its production but also by its processing. The overall impact of tobacco cultivation is negative, considering the environmental and occupational health measures and indicators. The environment is damaged due to the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers, tobacco processing; and occupational health is in a vulnerable state due to the dispersal of harmful substances emitted during tobacco processing. The social impacts are significant, and respiratory and lung diseases are now obvious to the tobacco farmers and their families. Social surveys were conducted at the tobacco cultivation sites to identify the social and environmental impacts of tobacco cultivation. In this study, an assessment of environmental and occupational health impacts due to tobacco cultivation and processing were highlighted considering the health issues. A risk assessment framework was suggested considering the social and environmental dynamics of tobacco cultivation in different areas of Bangladesh.
Keywords: Environment / Health / Impacts / Occupational / Tobacco
Shahriar Rahman, Environmental and GIS Specialist, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bangladesh Country Office, House # 11, Road # 138, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh EMail: [email protected] .
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Study of Oral Health Among Workers in the Field of Radiation
المؤلفون: Hala AwadallaAbstractThis study was designed to investigate the characteristics of oral conditions of workers in a radiation field. The study was carried out on male subjects with ages ranging from 25-45 years and working in the National Center for Research and Radiation Technology (NCRRT), under protective measures and subjected to long-term low dose ionizing radiation. The subjects were divided into four groups; the first three groups represented the study groups, including subjects working in the radiation field; and a fourth group, the control group, including subjects working away from the radiation field. Study groups were divided according to the duration of work into the first group (including 20 subjects working for at least 10 years), the second group (including 20 subjects working from 5-10 years and the third group (including subjects working for at least five years). The investigation in bothstudy and control groups was made via immunological assessment by determination of the level of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), microbiological assessment via detection of aerobic, anaerobic bacteria and Candida albicans and by dental assessment through determination of dental indices (Decayed Missed –Filled (DMF) index, periodontal index and Plaque index). The results of this study reported lower level of SIgA in study groups compared to controls and the presence of Actinobacillus-actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium and Bacteriod Forythus in study groups. There was a significant difference between the study and control groups regarding DMF index, periodontal index and Plague index, in addition to the negative correlation between SIgA and the dental índices. This study showed that workers in the radiation hall NCRRT, subjected to long-term low dose ionizing radiation, were found to be at higher risk of carying and periodontal diseases compared to the control group.
Hala I Awadalla, Radwa A sallam, Mohamed G. Haggag, Abd El Monem S.Bashandi, Khaled A Abd El Khaffar .
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Antimutagenic Polyphenols in African Foods
المؤلفون: Sunday E AtawodiAbstractPolyphenols are ubiquitous in plant foods, and many have been associated with a variety of biological activities, including antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Some African foodstuffs have been analyzed for antimutagenic polyphenols by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Ionization–Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). The results showed that Dacryodes edulis fruit, Moringa oleifera and Syzygium aromaticum contained polyphenols like ellagic acid, gallate, methylgallate, catechol, kaempferol quercetin and their derivatives. Also Canarium schweinfurthii Engl oil contained phenolic compounds and lignans, namely; catechol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, tyrosol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, dihydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, phloretic acid, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol. In addition, tomatoes (Lycopersicun esculentum Mill) contained the powerful antioxidant, lycopene; cabbage (Brassica oleracea) contained indole-3-carbinol; citrus fruits contained pectin; Soursop (Annona muricata) contained annonaceous acetogenins; soya beans (Glycine max) contained isoflavones; chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) contained capsaicin, and green tea (Camellia sinensis) contained (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-) epicatechin, (-) epicatechin-3-gallate and (-) epigallocatechin -3-gallate. Considered together with the reported presence of antimutagenic polyphenols, especially flavonoids in other African foods like bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), red palm oil (Elaeis guineensis), Hibiscus sabdariffa), okra (Hibiscus esculentus), Beniseed (Sesanum indicum), Adansonia digitata, Amaranthus sp, Telfeiria occidentalis, locust beans (Parkia clapertoniana), ginger (Ginger officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), Tamarindus indica, cashew (Anacardium occidentalis), Mango (Mangifera indica), Vitex doniana, Syzygium aromaticum, Balanites aegyptiaca, citrus fruits, Irvingia gabonensis, Psidium guavjava, Talinum triangulare, Garcinia cola, tomatoes, soya beans, atile (Canarium schweinfurthii), it is concluded that a number of African foods have the capacity to mitigate against mutation induced by several environmental agents, and therefore could contribute significantly to cancer chemoprevention.
S.E. Atawodi, Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria EMail: [email protected] .
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Antimutagenic Polyphenols in African Foods
المؤلفون: Thamir IsmailAbstractThe major problem with cancer is the ability of cancer cells to infiltrate surrounding tissue (invasion) or to spread to distant organs (metastasis), thereby decreasing the patient’s survival. One of the first steps in the process of metastasis is local spreading or invasion from the primary tumour and certain Ca2+ -binding proteins of the S100 family eg, S100A4 and S100P, can induce a metastatic phenotype and enhance cell migration and invasion. Both S100A4 and S100P are expressed at elevated levels in several forms of cancer including breast, pancreatic, prostate, colon, ovary, oesophagus and lung cancer. Initially, we introduced a series of deletion mutants on the S100A4 protein by truncation of the C-terminal region. The S100A4 open-reading-frame cloned into an expression vector was subjected to site-directed mutagenesis to create the mutations, either by deletion or by substitution. These mutant proteins, when expressed in cells, conferred reduced metastasis, invasion and migration-inducing abilities, compared to cells expressing wild type S100A4 protein. The mutations reduced the ability of the S100A4 protein to bind to one of its intracellular targets, non-muscle myosin II heavy chain isoform A (NMMHCIIA) in vitro. There was a significant reduction in metastasis, migration and binding to NMMHCIIA when only the last two basic C-terminal lysine residues (Lys100, 101) were removed. A similar decrease in metastasis, migration, and invasion was also observed in mutated S100P protein. Removing the single C-terminal lysine residue from S100P protein, or its replacement by alanine, dramatically reduced the metastasis-promoting ability of this protein. Binding to NMMHCIIA was also tested in vitro. The results showed that S100P mutant protein exhibited 10-folds lower affinity to NMMHCIIA than to the wild type protein. In vivo, cells expressing high levels of S100P mutant protein exhibited a dramatically changed organisation of the NMMHCIIA cytoskeleton compared to cells expressing wild type S100P. There was also change in the actin cytoskeleton to a more polarised, highly bundled structure in cells with an elevated level of mutant S100P protein compared to cells expressing the wild type protein. These results identify the lysine(s) at the C-terminal of these two S100 family proteins as being important in their binding to one of their target proteins, in cell migration, cytoskeletal organisation, cell invasion and metastasis. These observations may have pharmaceutical implications for potential anti-cancer drugs targeted to S100A4 and S100P. This work was supported by the James Tudor Foundation and the Cancer and Polio Research Fund.
Thamir Ismail, Stephane Gross, Connie Goh, Mark C. Wilkinson, Philip S. Rudland and Roger Barraclough .
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Detection of HPV DNA (16 and 18) in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue by Polymerase Chain Reaction
المؤلفون: Fatemeh KhajehAbstractHuman papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the important causal agents of gynecological cancers which appears to play an important role in cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx. This study evaluates the relationship between the presence of HPV and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue in nonsmokers in south Iran. In this case-control study, pathologic specimens of 35 nonsmokers with a histological diagnosis of tongue SCC, compared with 30 specimen from patients with tongue lesions other than intraepithelial neoplasms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect HPV16 and 18 genome in both groups. 10 out of 35 in the case group and one out of 30 in the control group, 28.5 percent versus 3.3 percent, showed the presence of the HPV genome by use of PCR. Chi-square test used for statistical analysis of data (p value=0.007). Nevertheless, the present study supports the strong association between HPV infection and tongue SCC in non-smokers. Tongue SCC is known as a rare disease, so the planning for more advanced studies to confirm this association and the use of proper HPV vaccination is strongly suggested; particularly when an increase of oro-genital practice worldwide increases the incidence of tongue SCC. .
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Adaptive Response in a Population Exposed to High Levels of Air Pollution
المؤلفون: Pavel RossnerAbstractWe investigated the impact of air pollution on individuals living in the heavily polluted industrial Ostrava region and compared it with individuals from the relatively clean capital city of Prague, Czech Republic. The study was conducted in three sampling stages, differing in the concentrations of air pollutants (winter 2009, summer 2009 and winter 2010). In all stages the study subjects from the Ostrava region were exposed to significantly higher concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and benzene than the subjects in Prague. To evaluate DNA damage in subjects from both locations we detected levels of bulky DNA adducts, chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and oxidative stress markers in blood plasma and urine. Despite significantly higher concentrations of pollutants in the Ostrava region in all sampling periods, the levels of biomarkers were mostly comparable in both locations suggesting a possible role of adaptive response to environmental pollution in the Ostrava subjects. Whole genome expression analysis revealed significant differences between locations in expression profiles of genes participating in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, inflammation and in metabolism of xenobiotics. Our results indicate that long-term exposure to high levels of environmental pollutants may lead to adaption of the organism to the effect of xenobiotics. However, the adaption leads to a shorter life-span of the affected population.
Supported by the Czech Ministry of the Environment (SP/1b3/8/08) and the Czech Ministry of Education (2B08005).
Pavel Rossner, Jr., Olena Beskid, Alena Milcova, Anna Pastorkova, Andrea Rossnerova, Jana Schmuczerova, Vlasta Svecova, Nana Tabashidze, Elena Tulupova, Jan Topinka, Radim J. Sram Laboratory of Genetic Ecotoxicology, Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic .
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Nanosilver Induced DNA Damage does not Correlate with Cell Survival
المؤلفون: Marcin KruszewskiAbstractAlthough silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Ag NP and TiO2 NP) belong to the NP most often studied, the mechanisms of their biological effects are still not fully understood. Moreover, there are numerous discrepancies in the reports on the extent of DNA damage induced by Ag NP in various mammalian cells in in vitro studies. The available data on Ag NP genotoxicity in vitro are based on short-term assays, such as MTT or Neutral Red assay, and no attempt has been made to directly relate DNA damage to clonogenicity loss. Therefore, we undertook a detailed study of unfunctionalised Ag NP and TiO2 NP action on 3 mammalian cell lines: human hepatocellular liver carcinoma HepG2, human lung carcinoma A549 and human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29. The end-points examined in this report after 2h and 24h treatment with NP, were DNA breakage estimated by the comet assay and oxidative base damage recognized by formamido-pyrimidine glycosylase (FPG) and estimated with the FPG+comet assay. Further, the frequencies of histone γH2AX foci and micronuclei, apoptosis as well as metabolic activity (MTT assay) and clonogenic capacity were estimated. Each cell line had a different pattern of DNA breakage and base damage versus NP concentration and time of treatment. There were no increases in the frequencies of histone γH2AX foci and micronuclei as compared to those in the untreated cells. Our results provided no data that would link DNA damage induced by Ag NP to the early apoptosis or to the loss of clonogenic ability. Such a conclusion is especially convincing for 20 nm TiO2 NP which induce DNA damage at a level comparable to that of 20 nm Ag NP but, in contrast with 20 nm Ag NP, hardly affects clonogenic ability. This does not mean that DNA lesions induced by NP are harmless, especially at the organismal level. When incorrectly repaired, they may lead to mutations in proteins, in consequence bringing about various adverse effects on human health, including cancer predisposition, neurodegeneration, and immunodeficiency.
Sylwia Męczyńska-Wielgosz, Teresa Bartłomiejczyk, Iwona Grądzka, Anna Lankoff, Maria Wojewódzka, Grzegorz Wójciuk, Karolina Wójciuk, Maria Dusinska, Lucyna Kapka-Skrzypczak, Marcin Kruszewski
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Means of Legal Protection of the Environment
المؤلفون: Ahmed Abou MustafaAbstractProtection of the environment, anywhere, requires carrying out three indispensable fundamental tasks to achieve the desired goal of raising the level of environmental awareness among the population; to avoid the risk of ignorance of the importance of preserving the environment, and to face excessive pollution cases. This is done by introducing the protection of the environment within educational programs in schools and universities; also using media and modern communications to prepare qualified professionals in the fields of environmental science to work at protecting the environment. This will safeguard against all kinds of pollution, by planning and implementation, so that the protection of the environment will be an element of the feasibility study of the projects to be set up, and the most important factor that controls human behavior in operational areas. Enactment of laws is necessary to protect the environment from attacks that can occur in any element, and the most effective laws are those that protect against pollution and prevent its occurrence; or even putting a deterrent in place such as penalties for the environmental violation. The aim of these sanctions is to limit the behaviors that causeenvironmental pollution by instilling a fear of punishment. Environmental protection laws have become one of the most important laws imposed over the last decade and this is a basic necessity for many countries to preserve the environment. Degrees of interest in environmental legislation and provisions contained therein, have varied as it progresses and develops. Developed countries with a high awareness but lacking in the development of legal rules, and underdeveloped countries differ in their positions on environmental laws, particularly concerning food shortage and poverty. However, legislations, for the most part, have been weak in terms of protection, or they did not implement them strongly enough. .
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