The possible role of the seaweed Ulva fasciata on ameliorating hyperthyroidism-associated heart inflammations in a rat model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cardiovascular diseases are key complications primarily associated with hyperthyroidism disorders. The present study sought to ameliorate...     

Health disorders among Egyptian municipal solid waste workers and assessment of their knowledge,attitude, and practice towards the hazardous exposure

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Solid waste workers are exposed to variety of injuries and diseases at work. To study health disorders among workers in the waste management field and...     

Exploring multifunctional antioxidants as potential agents for management of neurological disorders

Free radical or oxidative stress may be a fundamental mechanism underlying several human neurologic diseases. Therapy using free radical scavengers (antioxidants) has the potential to prevent, delay, or ameliorate many neurologic disorders. However, the biochemistry of oxidative pathobiology is complex, and optimum antioxidant therapeutic options may vary and need to be tailored to individual diseases. In vitro and animal model studies support the potential beneficial role of various antioxidant compounds in neurological disease. Antioxidants generally play an important role in reducing or preventing the cell damage and other changes which occur in the cells like mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA mutations, and lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane. Based on their mechanism of action, antioxidants can be used to treat various neurological disorders like Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Vitamin E has a scavenging action for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also prevents the lipid peroxidation. Creatine generally reduces the mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Various metal chelators are used in PD for the prevention of accumulation of the metals. Superoxidase dismutase (SOD), lipases, and proteases act as repair enzymes in patients with AD. Accordingly, the antioxidant defense system is found to be most useful for treating various neurological disorders.

     

Oxidative stress,hematological and biochemical alterations in farmers exposed to pesticides

In this study, a cohort of farmers from the Mateur region in the North of Tunisia, were interviewed and examined for the biochemical effects of pesticides. We studied their haematological profile, lipid parameters, serum markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We also evaluated the activities of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiolactonase-paroxonase (PON). Moreover, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined. The duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age were considered in the analysis. Our results revealed significant differences in some haematological parameters, in liver and kidney functions, in the lipidic status of the pesticide-exposed group. We also reported an increase in the index of incidence of cardiovascular risk in farmer populations. A significant decrease in AChE, BChE and PON levels was found among farmers. Lipid peroxidation, however, increased. The activities of SOD and CAT were remarkably elevated in farmer populations. There was a significant relation between changes in biological markers, the duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age. This study indicates that a long-term exposure to pesticides may play an important role in the development of vascular diseases via metabolic disorders of lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, inhibition of BChE and decrease in thiolactonase-PON levels.     

Neurologic features of chronic minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning) and incidence of complications with aging

Abstract

To elucidate the neurologic features of chronic Minamata disease, and the incidence of complications with aging, we studied 80 patients with documented Minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning) from 1986 to 1994 (mean age: 63 years). Of the cardinal neurologic findings, sensory impairment was seen with highest frequency in 98.8% of patients limited to the extremities in 86.3%. Impairment of lower extremity coordination was observed in 60%, constriction of the visual field in 51.9%, and retrocochlear hearing loss in 41%. To assess age‐related complications, patients were separated into three groups by age: Group I (10 to 39 years); Group II (40 to 69 years); Group III (≥7 0 years). The incidences of hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases, organic ophthalmologic disorders (including cataracts), presbyacusis, and cervical spondylosis deformans increased significantly with age. Compared with a preceding survey (1981 to 1985, 171 patients, mean age: 63.5 years), the incidences of complicated hypertension and cataracts had decreased, whereas those of cerebrovascular disease and retinitis pigmentosa remained unchanged. The incidences of abnormal brain computed tomography (CT), presbyacusis, cervical spondylosis deformans, and positive tests for urine sugar also increased. The incidences of these complications other than retinitis pigmentosa were similar to those in the general population. These results accurately reflect the recent epidemiological disease tendencies in Japan toward a decreased incidence of hypertension and an increased incidence of diabetes.     

Focusing the pivotal role of nanotechnology in Huntington’s disease: an insight into the recent advancements

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Neurodegeneration is the loss of neuronal capacity and structure over time which causes neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer, amyotrophic...     

The trend analysis of neurological disorders as major causes of death and disability according to human development, 1990-2019

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to assess the trends in the incidence rate of neurological disorders in developed and developing countries worldwide during...     

Climate change: potential impact on plant diseases

Global climate has changed since pre-industrial times. Atmospheric CO(2), a major greenhouse gas, has increased by nearly 30% and temperature has risen by 0.3 to 0.6 degrees C. The intergovernmental panel on climate change predicts that with the current emission scenario, global mean temperature would rise between 0.9 and 3.5 degrees C by the year 2100. There are, however, many uncertainties that influence these predictions. Despite the significance of weather on plant diseases, comprehensive analysis of how climate change will influence plant diseases that impact primary production in agricultural systems is presently unavailable. Evaluation of the limited literature in this area suggests that the most likely impact of climate change will be felt in three areas: in losses from plant diseases, in the efficacy of disease management strategies and in the geographical distribution of plant diseases. Climate change could have positive, negative or no impact on individual plant diseases. More research is needed to obtain base-line information on different disease systems. Most plant disease models use different climatic variables and operate at a different spatial and temporal scale than do the global climate models. Improvements in methodology are necessary to realistically assess disease impacts at a global scale.     

Global climate change: modelling the potential responses of agro-ecosystems with special reference to crop protection

Pests and diseases reduce yields to lower levels than those that could have been potentially obtained, given the restrictions of climate, nutrients and crop varieties. Climatic change not only affects the potential yield levels, but it may also modify the effects of pests and diseases. Modelling can serve as a tool to integrate these processes, ranging from simple removal of plant material to subtle toxic and hormonal effects. Modelling can help to quantify different modes of action such as on photosynthesis, root activity, assimilate partitioning, morphology, and their interactions. As to climatic change, little is known about pests, diseases and weeds. If climatic change causes a gradual shift of agricultural regions, crops and their associated pests, diseases and weeds will migrate together, though at different rates maybe. To a limited extent, new outbreaks can be foreseen given the changed environmental conditions. Methodology is available, and some interesting results are on record. Specific changes such as an increase in the CO(2) content in the air and in UV radiation are not likely to have large effects. Increasing atmospheric CO(2) reduces crop nitrogen content, which may retard many pests and diseases, and change the composition of the weed flora which accompanies crops. Some cautionary remarks are made to avoid jumping to conclusions.     

Frequency of PPAR-γ, FTO and ABCC8 genetic variation in Pakistani cardiovascular smokers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Smoking is considered as one of the major reasons behind genetic variations in cardiometabolic disorders. However, effect of nicotine via smoking on...     

Exploring the multifaceted role of TGF-β signaling in diabetic complications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Diabetes is one of the most comprehensive metabolic disorders and is spread across the globe. The data from IDF Diabetes Atlas and National Diabetes...     

Association between particulate matter air pollution and cardiovascular disease mortality in Lanzhou,China

Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution has been linked to elevated mortality, especially from cardiovascular diseases. However, evidence on the effects of particulate matter pollution on cardiovascular mortality is still limited in Lanzhou, China. This research aimed to examine the associations of daily mean concentrations of ambient air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM_C, and PM₁₀) and cardiovascular mortality due to overall and cause-specific diseases in Lanzhou. Data representing daily cardiovascular mortality rates, meteorological factors (daily average temperature, daily average humidity, and atmospheric pressure), and air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂) were collected from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2017, in Lanzhou. A quasi-Poisson regression model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the associations. Stratified analyses were also performed by different cause-specific diseases, including cerebrovascular disease (CD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart rhythm disturbances (HRD), and heart failure (HF). The results showed that elevated concentration of PM_2.5, PM_C, and PM₁₀ had different effects on mortality of different cardiovascular diseases. Only cerebrovascular disease showed a significant positive association with elevated PM_2.5. Positive associations were identified between PM_C and daily mortality rates from total cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and ischemic heart diseases. Besides, increased concentration of PM₁₀ was correlated with increased death of cerebrovascular diseases and ischemic heart diseases. For cerebrovascular disease, each 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 at lag4 was associated with increments of 1.22% (95% CI 0.11–2.35%). The largest significant effects for PM_C on cardiovascular diseases and ischemic heart diseases were both observed at lag0, and a 10 μg/m³ increment in concentration of PM_C was associated with 0.47% (95% CI 0.06–0.88%) and 0.85% (95% CI 0.18–1.52%) increases in cardiovascular mortality and ischemic heart diseases. In addition, it exhibited a lag effect on cerebrovascular mortality as well, which was most significant at lag6d, and an increase of 10 μg/m³ in PM_C was associated with a 0.76% (95% CI 0.16–1.37%) increase in cerebrovascular mortality. The estimates of percentage change in daily mortality rates per 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ were 0.52% (95% CI 0.05–1.02%) for cerebrovascular disease at lag6 and 0.53% (95% CI 0.01–1.05%) for ischemic heart disease at lag0, respectively. Our study suggests that elevated concentration of atmospheric PM (PM_2.5, PM_C, and PM₁₀) in Lanzhou is associated with increased mortality of cardiovascular diseases and that the health effect of elevated concentration of PM_2.5 is more significant than that of PM_C and PM₁₀.

     

Anti-kindling effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract and L-carnitine in the pentylenetetrazol model of epilepsy

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain disorders, affecting about 1% of the population all over the world. Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) and...     

Stage dependent susceptibility to lead in Bufo arenarum embryos

The stage dependent susceptibility to lead in amphibian development was studied by exposing Bufo arenarum embryos during neurulae, neuromuscular activity and gill circulation stages for twenty hours to 1 ppm Pb(2+). Survival, malformations and behavioral disorders were evaluated. The embryonic susceptibility to lead was markedly stage dependent. The survival at the neuromuscular activity stage was approximately half that of the other two periods; concerning malformations, the gill circulation stage was the least sensitive. The observed malformations consisted of failed closure of neural tube, hydropsy, small and cylindrical tails, reduced body size and incurvations in the body axis. Some alterations occurred in all experimental groups and therefore were considered non-dependent on the period of treatment. In all experimental embryos, neurological disorders such as trembles and loss of equilibrium were observed.     

Climate change: potential effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on plant diseases

Continued world population growth results in increased emission of gases from agriculture, combustion of fossil fuels, and industrial processes. This causes changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Evidence is emerging that increased solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is reaching the earth's atmosphere, due to stratospheric ozone depletion. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)), ozone (O(3)) and UV-B are individual climate change factors that have direct biological effects on plants. Such effects may directly or indirectly affect the incidence and severity of plant diseases, caused by biotic agents. Carbon dioxide may increase plant canopy size and density, resulting in a greater biomass of high nutritional quality, combined with a much higher microclimate relative humidity. This would be likely to promote plant diseases such as rusts, powdery mildews, leaf spots and blights. Inoculum potential from greater overwintering crop debris would also be increased. Ozone is likely to have adverse effects on plant growth. Necrotrophic pathogens may colonize plants weakened by O(3) at an accelerated rate, while obligate biotroph infections may be lessened. Ozone is unlikely to have direct adverse effects on fungal pathogens. Ozone effects on plant diseases are host plant mediated. The principal effects of increased UV-B on plant diseases would be via alterations in host plants. Increased flavonoids could lead to increased diseased resistance. Reduced net photosynthesis and premature ripening and senescence could result in a decrease in diseases caused by biotrophs and an increase in those caused by necrotrophs. Microbial plant pathogens are less likely to be adversely affected by CO(2), O(3) and UV-B than are their corresponding host plants. Changes in host plants may result in expectable alterations of disease incidence, depending on host plant growth stages and type of pathogen. Given the importance of plant diseases in world food and fiber production, it is essential to begin studying the effects of increased CO(2), O(3) and UV-B (and other climate change factors) on plant diseases. We know very little about the actual impacts of climate change factors on disease epidemiology. Epidemiologists should be encouraged to consider CO(2), O(3) and UV-B as factors in their field studies.     

Organochlorine concentrations in breast milk and prevalence of allergic disorders in Japanese women

Persistent organic pollutants have been shown to have immunomodulating effects in humans. However, epidemiological evidence regarding the relationships between organochlorine compound exposure and allergic disorders coming from studies of children has been limited and inconsistent. The current cross-sectional study examined the associations between the concentrations of β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and trans-nonachlordane in breast milk and the prevalence of allergic disorders in 124 adult Japanese women. The definition of wheeze and asthma was based on criteria from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey whereas that of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis was based on criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Adjustment was made for age, smoking, family history of allergic disorders, and education. The prevalence values of wheeze, asthma, eczema, and rhinoconjunctivitis in the past 12 months were 9.7%, 4.8%, 13.7%, and 29.8%, respectively. The median concentrations of β-HCH, HCB, p,p'-DDE, and trans-nonachlordane in breast milk were 28.3, 7.0, 71.6, and 23.9 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively (range, 4.5-253, 2.1-14.5, 7.5-362, and 1.8-130 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively). When the exposures were treated as continuous variables, no significant associations were found between concentrations of HCB, β-HCH, p,p'-DDE, or trans-nonachlordane and the prevalence of wheeze, asthma, eczema, or rhinoconjunctivitis. Our results suggest that concentrations of β-HCH, HCB, p,p'-DDE, and trans-nonachlordane in breast milk are not evidently associated with the prevalence of wheeze, asthma, eczema, or rhinoconjunctivitis in young female Japanese adults.     

医院旱厕粪便无害化处理研究

粪便是多种疾病的传染源。病人、潜伏期病原携带者、慢性病原携带者等，通过粪便排出病原体，使健康者受感染。医院是各类病人集中的地方，医院厕所粪便则是重要的疾病传染源。据有关报导，我国中小城镇排污处理设施不足，污水处理系统严重欠缺。乡、镇基层医院仍以旱厕为主，兼有少数水冲厕。贵州省现有县级及县级以下医院约２０００所，一般为旱厕，其粪便均未经无害化处理，成为当地重要的疾病传染源。文章着重介绍以两级厌氧池（Ａｎａｅｒｏｂｉｃｔａｎｋ）去除好氧病原菌为主，再由两级氧化池（Ｏｘｉｄａｔｉｏｎｔａｎｋ）去除厌氧病菌的双Ａ双Ｏ法，处理贵阳市传染病院门诊旱厕粪便，使其达到粪便无害化卫生标准（ＧＢ７９５９－８７），预防减少疾病传播；同时进行制取生物质能沼气的试验及研究。     

Dissipation and residues of dimethyl disulfide in tomatoes and soil under greenhouse and open field conditions

Abstract

Tomatoes have been widely planted in greenhouses and fields in China. Soil-borne diseases are more harmful to tomatoes than other types of diseases. Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) was used as a novel fumigant instead of methyl bromide to control soil-borne diseases. To assess the safety of DMDS for use on tomatoes, its dissipation and terminal residues were investigated at three different locations under greenhouse and open field conditions. The QuEChERS method was simplified using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection and combined with liquid-liquid extraction purification to allow determination of DMDS levels in both the tomatoes and the soil. The average recovery of the method was between 85.3 and 98.6%, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from to 1.9–10.3%. The dissipation and terminal residues of DMDS in the tomatoes and the soil were analyzed using the method, the results of which showed that the half-life of DMDS ranged from 0.3–6.5 d in the soil at three different locations. The terminal residues of DMDS in the tomatoes and the soil were not detected. This study provided data that the Chinese government can use to support appropriate and safe guidance for the use of DMDS on agriculture.     

Blood and urine manganese exposure in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced liver fibrosis: an observational study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Manganese was the key activator of biological enzymes-mediated metabolic diseases (Mets)-associated pathophysiological process. Non-alcoholic fatty...     

Management of oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiovascular diseases: mechanisms and challenges

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have diverse physiopathological mechanisms with interconnected oxidative stress and inflammation as one of the common...