Heavy metal (Pb,Cu, Zn,and Cd) concentrations in the water and muscle of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fish and associated non-carcinogenic risk assessment: Alagol wetland in the Golestan,Iran

Short- and long-term exposure to heavy metals can be dangerous for human health. One of the main routes of exposure to heavy metals is intake of seafood such as fish. In this study, lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) concentration in the water and muscle of C. Carpio fish was measured and non-carcinogenic risk of these heavy metals was estimated. The mean (range) concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd were 7.92?±?7.99 (1.22–39.43?mg/kg), 120.90?±?106.25 (1.15–477?mg/kg), 5.84?±?5.22 (ND-21.86?mg/kg), and 0.027?±?0.043 (ND-0.14). Except Cd, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb were significantly more than Food and Agricultural Organization United Nations (FAOUN) maximum guidelines (p??Cu?>?Pb?>?Cd in the water and muscle tissue of C. carpio fish. Lowest and highest target hazard quotient (THQ) for adults was related to Cd (0.005) and Pb (0.252) and for children, Cd (0.003) and Pb (0.168), respectively. The rank order of THQ for adults and children are Pb?>?Zn?>?Cu?>?Cd. Since THQ and hazard index (HI) for both adults and children were significantly lower than 1 (p?C. Carpio fish consumption.     

Risk factors for venous symptoms in Russian patients with chronic venous disease

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate risk factors for venous symptoms in Russian patients with chronic venous disease (CVD).

Methods: Data on 487 patients with CVD aged 18?years and more were extracted from the database of a cross-sectional population-based study on the prevalence of CVD in a rural settlement. Risk factors for venous symptoms were calculated by multiple regression analysis. The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03900234, 1 April 2019.

Results: A total of 259 patients (53.2%) had venous symptoms. Female gender, hard labour (HRs 1.8 and 1.4, p?<?.01), age, family history of CVD and being employed (HRs 1.009, 1.3, 1.27, p?<?.05) are risk factors for development of symptoms. After calculating for different complaints separately, female gender was confirmed as a risk factor for all symptoms. Family history of CVD with HR 1.4 is a risk factor for heaviness (p?<?.01) and fatigue (p?<?0.05). Employment predicts heaviness, sensation of swelling and night cramps – HRs 1.38, 1.7 and 1.9 respectively (p?<?.05). Hard labour is a risk factor for sensation of swelling with HR 2.1 (p?<?.05), pain and night cramps (HRs 2.2 and 4.4, p?<?.01). Prolonged standing is associated with sensation of swelling – HR 1.05 (p?<?.05). Superficial venous reflux is a predictor only for venous pain (HR 2.4, p?<?.01).

Conclusions: This study presents independent risk factors for venous symptoms in CVD patients. It demonstrates that different symptoms are associated with different factors.     

Toxic effects of subacute inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene on serum lipid profile,glucose and biochemical parameters in Sprague–Dawley rats

Abstract

The current study evaluated the inhalation toxicity of trichloroethylene (TCE) at 0, 10, 100, 250 and 400?ppm in Sprague–Dawley rats for 10 day period, because the subacute inhalation toxicity of TCE on serum lipid profile, glucose and some biochemical parameters has not been previously reported. TCE vapors were generated using the dynamic generation system based on evaporation method in the exposure chamber. On the basis of the results, mean serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and albumin (ALB) decreased significantly in all the groups exposed to TCE compared with the control group (p?<?.005), but there was a significant increase for parameters: fasting blood glucose (FBG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p?<?.005). Rats exposed to 400?ppm TCE showed a significant decrease in serum cholesterol (CHOL) and protein (Pr) compared with the control group (p?<?.005). A negative relationship was found between triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), CHOL, LDL, Pr, ALB and urea levels and the subacute exposure to concentrations of TCE (R²?=?–0.26, p?<?.05), but there was a direct correlation for parameters FBG, ALP and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (R²?=?0.42, p?<?.05). In conclusion, studies with Sprague–Dawley rats demonstrated that subacute inhalation exposure to TCE (≥ 100?PPM) is associated with biochemical and lipotoxicity in the form of decreased serum ALB and LDL and raised ALP and glucose levels. The present study also provides additional evidence relating to decreased serum CHOL and Pr after subacute inhalation exposure to 400?ppm TCE.     

The partnership between renalase and ejection fraction as a risk factor for increased cardiac remodeling biomarkers in chronic heart failure patients

Abstract

Objective: Heart failure (HF) represents a huge socio-economic burden. It has been demonstrated, experimentally, that renalase, a newly discovered protein, prevents cardiac hypertrophy and adverse remodeling, which is seen in HF. We postulated the following aims: to investigate associations of renalase with biomarkers of cardiac remodeling: galectin-3, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity, (sST2), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and syndecan-1, myocardial stretch (BNP) and cardio-renal axis (cystatin C) in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) to determine whether renalase, in combination with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), represents a risk factor for plasma elevation in biomarkers.

Methods: We classified HF patients (n?=?76) according to LVEF (preserved/reduced), applied a median plasma renalase (113?ng/mL) as a cut-off value (low/high) and created four subgroups of HF patients: HFpEF/low renalase (n?=?19), HFrEF/low renalase (n?=?19), HFrEF/high renalase (n?=?32) and HFpEF/high renalase (n?=?6). A control group (n?=?35) consisted of healthy volunteers.

Results: Plasma concentrations of evaluated biomarkers were determined using an ELISA technique and were highest in HF patients with reduced EF (p?<?.001, respectively), and renalase’s positive correlations were obtained relating to all biomarkers: galectin-3 (r?=?0.913; p?<?.001), sST2 (r?=?0.965; p?<?.001), GDF-15 (r?=?0.887; p?<?.001), syndecan-1 (r?=?0.922; p?<?.001), BNP (r?=?0.527; p?<?.001) and cystatin C (r?=?0.844; p?<?.001) and strong and negative correlation with LVEF (r?=??0.456, p?<?.001). Increased renalase, regardless of the EF (preserved/reduced), was shown to be an independent risk factor for an increase in all evaluated cardiac remodeling biomarkers, p?<?.001, respectively. However, increased renalase and reduced EF was the only independent risk factor for BNP and cystatin C elevation, p?<?.001, respectively. Results after multivariable adjustments (age/gender) were identical.

Conclusion: When elevated plasma renalase and HF are present, regardless of EF being reduced or preserved, that represents a significant risk factor for increase in cardiac remodeling biomarker plasma concentrations. However, only elevated renalase and reduced EF demonstrated significance as a risk factor for BNP and cystatin C plasma elevation. Renalase may be considered a promising molecule for the improved predictive abilities of conventional biomarkers and is worthy of further investigation.     

Smoking Status and Cost of Illness in Patients with Depressive Disorder Based on the National Health Survey in Spain

Background: Twenty-one percent of subjects with depressive disorder (DD) smoke. This prevalence is expected to be related to healthcare resources utilization (HRU) and sick leave, thereby accounting for substantial costs to the National Health System (NHS) and to society that still need to be characterized. The objective was to estimate cost of illness in patients with DD according to their smoking status. Methods: We used the 2011/2012 National Health Survey to document HRU and lost-workday equivalents (LWDE). Men and women 18+ years old with a DD self-reported to a physician in the past 12?months were categorized into: smokers (daily smokers), former smokers, and never smokers. HRU and LWDE were computed on an annualized basis. Multivariate general linear models adjusted for sex, age, and comorbidities were applied. Results: Data from 1,816 subjects (381 smokers, 290 former smokers, and 1,145 never smokers) were analyzed. Smokers had higher total per patient annual costs (thousands, €3.14), and higher annual healthcare costs (€2.53) than former smokers (€2.35, p?<?.1; and €1.93, p?<?.05) and never smokers (€2.42, p?<?.05; and €2.06, p?<?.1): with excess costs of €0.79 and €0.72 for total annual costs and €0.60 and €0.47 for annual healthcare costs (p?=?.029 and p?=?.056, respectively). Conclusions: Smoking DD subjects were associated with higher HRU and costs from both the societal and healthcare perspectives, when compared with former and never smokers in the Spanish general population. Supporting people with DD to quit smoking might therefore be a value-for-money health policy in Spain.     

Prescribing patterns and healthcare costs of gout

Objective/methods: The Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) 2010 was used to identify gout cases and their number of gout flares.

Results: Out of 21,376 gout patients, a total of 3561 (16.7%) had frequent gout flares (≥3 gout flares/year). Average all-cause healthcare utilization (35.9 visits vs. 30.7 visits; p?<?.001) and gout-related utilization (22.7 visits vs. 15.6 visits; p?<?.001) were higher in frequent gout flare patients than in those with infrequent gout flares. The median gout-related cost (USD $369 vs. $285; p?<?.001), but not all-cause costs (p?=?.25), were higher in frequent gout flare patients compared to the infrequent group. Over 55.8% of the flares were treated with colchicine?+?NSAIDs.

Conclusions: In conclusion, patients with frequent gout flares had higher healthcare utilization and gout-related healthcare costs. Colchicine?+?NSAIDs are commonly used therapy for gout flare.     

Effect of coverage gap on healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder

Objective: To evaluate the association between the Medicare coverage gap with hospitalization, emergency room (ER) visits, and time to hospitalization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using data from a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. Patients with ≥1 claim for COPD at baseline, ≥65 years, continuous 24-months enrollment and without any cancer/end stage renal disease diagnosis were eligible. Patients not reaching the coverage gap (no coverage gap) were matched and compared to those reaching the coverage gap and those reaching catastrophic coverage in separate analyses. Chi-square tests and Cox proportional hazards model were used to compare outcomes across matched cohorts.

Results: In total, 3142 COPD patients were identified (79% no coverage gap, 10% coverage gap, and 11% catastrophic coverage). Compared to the no coverage gap group, a larger number of beneficiaries in the coverage gap group had ≥1 hospitalization (26% vs 32%, p?<?.05), ≥ 1 ER visits (43% vs 49%, p?<?.05), and ≥1 hospitalization/ER (total visit) (47% vs 54%, p?<?.05), respectively. Compared to the no coverage gap group, a greater number of beneficiaries in catastrophic coverage had ≥1 ER visit (45% vs 53%, p?<?.05) or ≥1 total visits (48% vs 56%, p?<?.05), respectively. Time to hospitalization was shorter among those entering the coverage gap as compared to the no coverage gap [Hazards Ratio (HR)?=?1.5; p?=?.040].

Conclusions: COPD patients entering the coverage gap and catastrophic coverage were associated with increased utilization of healthcare services. Entering the coverage gap was also associated with shorter time to hospitalization as compared to the no coverage gap.     

Protective effect against brain tissues oxidative damage as a possible mechanism for beneficial effects of L-arginine on lipopolysaccharide induced memory impairment in rats

L-Arginine (LA) and nitric oxide (NO) have been suggested to have some effects on learning, memory, brain tissues oxidative damage, and neuroinflammation. In this study, protective effect against brain tissues oxidative damage as a possible mechanism for beneficial effects of LA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced memory impairment was investigated. The rats were grouped into and treated by (1) control (saline), (2) LPS (1?mg/kg, IP), (3) LA (200?mg/kg) – LPS (4) LA. In passive avoidance (PA) test, LPS administration shortened the latency to enter the dark compartment in LPS group compared to control (p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?相似文献   

Montelukast prevents vascular endothelial dysfunction from internal combustion exhaust inhalation during exercise

Associations between high particulate matter (PM) pollution and increased morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease have been identified. This study assessed leukotriene (LT) participation in PM-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction. Ten healthy males exercised 4 times for 30?min in both high PM (550,286?±?42,004 particles·cm^?3) and low PM (4571?±?1922 particles·cm^?3) after ingesting placebo (PL) or 10?mg montelukast (MK; half-life 3–6?h), a leukotriene receptor antagonist. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured pre- and 30?min, 4?h, 24?h post-exercise. No basal brachial artery vascoconstriction was evident from high PM exercise. High PM blunted FMD, whereas high PM MK, low PM PL, and low PM MK demonstrated normal FMD (p < .003). Change in FMD (pre- to post-exercise) for high PM PL was different than for high PM MK, low PM PL, and low PM MK at 30?min post-exercise (p?<?.007). At 4?h, high PM MK FMD blunting increased (p?=?.1). At 24?h, high PM FMD blunting persisted (p?<?.05); no difference was observed between high PM PL or MK treatment, but was different that low PM PL/MK treatments (p?<?.05). MK blocked high PM post-exercise FMD blunting and maintained normal response, suggesting that leukotrienes are involved in PM-initiated vascular endothelial dysfunction.     

Trace element concentration and its risk assessment in common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia Bordin, 1904) from southern basin of Caspian Sea

This study evaluated the extent of metal levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in edible muscles of common kilka at Babolsar and Amirabad coastal regions from the southern basin of Caspian Sea. These values were compared with the WHO and the UNFAO safety standards regarding the amount of the abovementioned heavy metals in fish tissues (mg/kg w.w.). Results showed that Zn concentrations were highest among the trace elements examined, while concentrations of Hg were generally the lowest in the analyzed tissues. In the other hand, the accumulation of these elements was not significantly different between coastal regions (p?>?0.05). While accumulation of Cu and Mn at edible muscles of Clupeonella cultriventris were significant difference between two coastal regions (p??Cu?>?Cr?>?Cd?>?Ni?>?Mn?>?Pb?>?Hg. Furthermore, Pearson correlation revealed that Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd and Hg in edible muscles of C. cultriventris were not significantly correlated in length (R^2?<^?0.50; p?>?0.05), but it was significantly correlated in weight (p?C. cultriventris consumption.     

Peri-implant soft-tissue parameters and crestal bone levels among narghile smokers and nonsmokers

This retrospective convenient sample case–control study investigated the peri-implant soft-tissue inflammatory parameters and crestal bone loss (CBL) among narghile smokers (NS) (Group I) and nonsmoking controls (Group II). Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire. Peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding-on-probing (BOP) and pocket-depth (PD) were assessed; and peri-implant CBL was measured on standardized digital bite-wing radiographs. Sample-size was estimated and statistical analysis were done using Mann–Whitney U-test. Level of significance was set at p?p?p?p?p?p?相似文献   

Oxidative stress status in congenital hypogonadism: an appraisal

Patients with hypogonadism are at increased risk of cardiac and metabolic diseases. However, the pathogenesis of increased cardiometabolic risk in patients with hypogonadism is not clear. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate possible differences in oxidative stress conditions between patients with hypogonadism and healthy controls. In this study, 38 male patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) (mean age: 21.7?±?1.6?years) and 44 healthy male controls (mean age: 22.3?±?1.4 years) with almost equal body mass index were enrolled. The demographic parameters, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total and free testosterone, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and oxidative stress parameters, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA), were compared between both groups. Compared to the healthy controls, triglycerides (p?=?.02), insulin levels, HOMA-IR values, CAT activities and MDA levels (p?p?=?.04), total and free testosterone, FSH, LH levels and GPx activity were significantly lower (p?r?=??.33 p?=?.01), GPx activity (r?=?.36 p?=?.007) and MDA (r?=??.47 p?相似文献   

Effects of triptolide on pharmacokinetics of fenofibrate in rats and its potential mechanism

1. Triptolide and fenofibrate are often used together for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome in Chinese clinics.

2. This study investigates the effects of triptolide on the pharmacokinetics of fenofibrate in rats and it potential mechanism.

3. The pharmacokinetics of fenofibrate (20?mg/kg) with or without triptolide pretreatment (2?mg/kg/day for seven days) were investigated. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of triptolide on the metabolic stability of fenofibrate were investigated using rat liver microsome incubation systems.

4. The results indicated that the C_max (35.34?±?7.52 vs. 30.43?±?6.45?μg/mL), t_1/2 (6.17?±?1.15 vs. 4.90?±?0.82?h) and AUC_(0–t) (468.12?±?35.84 vs. 416.35?±?32.68?mg?h?L^?1) of fenofibric acid decreased significantly (p?<?.05). The T_max of fenofibric acid increased significantly (p?<?.05) from 5.12?±?0.36 to 6.07?±?0.68?h. Additionally, the metabolic stability of fenofibrate was prolonged from 35.8?±?6.2 to 48.6?±?7.5?min (p?<?.05) with the pretreatment of triptolide.

5. In conclusion, these results indicated that triptolide could affect the pharmacokinetics of fenofibric acid, possibly by inhibiting the metabolism of fenofibrate in rat liver when they were co-administered.

     

Placenta structural changes in heavy smoking mothers: a stereological aspect

Objective: Smoking during pregnancy is able to alter the structure and function of the placenta. In the present study, quantitative changes of the placenta in smoking mothers were investigated compared to healthy controls by Cavalieri’s point counting method.

Methods: Twenty placentas from heavy smoking mothers and non-smoker controls (n?=?10 in each group) were selected. Systematic uniform random sampling (SURS) was used for sample selection and tissue sectioning. Quantitative parameters of the placenta in the selected sections were estimated after Masson’s trichrome staining. Differences between the two groups were determined by the Mann Whitney U test and the significance level was set at p?<?.05.

Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference in the placental weight, total volume of placenta, intervillous space, fibrin and syncytiotrophoblast between the heavy smoker group and the control group (p?<?.05). The differences in the volume density of fibrin and blood vessels between the smoker and control groups were statistically significant (p?<?.05).

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that quantitative parameters of the placenta significantly changed in placentas from the smoker group compared to controls. These changes can probably be associated with pregnancy complications in smoking mothers and may affect the development and survival of the fetus and even its future life.     

Emotion Regulation Outcomes and Preliminary Feasibility Evidence From a Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use

Based on the evidence that emotion regulation difficulties underpin many mental health struggles during adolescence, including substance use disorders (SUDs), we focused on distress tolerance as a particularly salient mechanism of action for bolstering emotion regulation outcomes for adolescents in early SUD recovery. Mindfulness-based interventions are effective in improving distress tolerance through teaching skills to reduce individuals’ perceived stress or feelings of crisis and increasing a sense of agency and self-regulatory efficacy. The aim of the present study was to improve emotion regulation outcomes in the student body of a recovery high school (N = 27) through six weeks of mindfulness intervention content delivered in a small-group format. Thus, we tested feasibility through recruitment and retention rates and examined preliminary efficacy outcomes from two, randomized mindfulness intervention conditions, and used a comparison group of students without an SUD diagnosis (N = 29) sampled from the community. Results indicate significant post-intervention impacts on recovery students’ depression symptomology and on two separate measures of impulsivity (t(22) = 2.358, p?<?.05; t(20)?=?2.358, p?<?.05; t(17)?=?3.979, p?<?.01, respectively), although no significant differences between intervention condition were noted. Findings from the current study echo similar studies with comparable samples. Implications for the dosage and approach of group-format mindfulness interventions for adolescent samples are discussed.     

Vitamin C prevents memory impairment induced by waterpipe smoke: role of oxidative stress

Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) was previously shown to be associated with memory deficits, which were related to oxidative stress. Vitamin C (VitC) has established antioxidant properties against memory deficits associated with several diseases and conditions. In this study, the potential protective effect of VitC on memory impairment induced by WTS exposure was evaluated in a rat model. VitC was administered to animals via oral gavage (100?mg/kg/day, 6?days a week for 4 weeks). At the same period, animals were exposed to WTS for one hour/day, 6?days a week for 4?weeks. Using radial arm water maze (RAWM), behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate the spatial learning and memory. In addition, hippocampal levels of oxidative stress biomarkers were analyzed. WTS exposure impaired both short- and long-term memory (p?p?p?p?>?.05). In conclusion, WTS resulted in inducing memory impairment, which was prevented by VitC administration. This could be related to preserving hippocampus antioxidant mechanisms by VitC during WTS exposure.     

Importance of balancing follow-up time and impact of oral-anticoagulant users’ selection when evaluating medication adherence in atrial fibrillation patients treated with rivaroxaban and apixaban

Objective: Studies comparing medications adherence have become common yet they often do not account for differences in relative follow-up. Patient selection criteria may impact validity and comparability of these studies as well.

Methods: Adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, ≥1 rivaroxaban or apixaban dispensing (index date), and ≥1 year of pre-index eligibility were selected from IMS Health Real World Data Adjudicated Claims (IMS RWD Adjudicated Claims) and Truven Health MarketScan Research (Truven MarketScan) databases. Adherence was evaluated using proportion of days covered (PDC)?≥?0.8 for treatment cohorts: (1) unmatched, with different follow-up, (2) propensity-score matched with similar follow-up, (3) matched, with similar follow-up and ≥2 rivaroxaban or apixaban dispensings, and (4) matched, with similar follow-up and chronic medication users only. Robustness was verified with PDC ≥0.9.

Results: In the IMS RWD Adjudicated Claims database, rivaroxaban users had a longer mean follow-up than apixaban users (408 versus 254 days, respectively; p?p?p?p?>?.05), and reversed after (3) excluding non-chronic medication users (5.0 pp; p?Conclusion: Medication adherence comparisons need to account for differences in follow-up. Selection of chronic medication users may impact comparative adherence advantage between medications.     

Evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of fluocinolone acetonide 190 µg intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema: a comparison between study and fellow eyes

Abstract

Objectives: To compare visual and anatomical outcomes between eyes treated with fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) 190 µg intravitreal implant for clinically significant chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) and fellow eyes not treated with FAc implant using data from the Iluvien Clinical Evidence study in the UK (ICE-UK) study.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data on people attending hospital eye services and treated with the FAc implant between April 1, 2013 and April 15, 2015 were collected. Changes in visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were compared between study eyes (intervention) and fellow eyes.

Results: A total of 208 people were selected. Mean age was 68.1 years and 62% were male. Mean change in VA was ?0.09 LogMAR units for study eyes and 0.04 LogMAR units for fellow eyes at 12 months post-implant (p?<?.001). Over the same period, ≥5 letter, ≥10 letter and ≥15 letter improvements in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score were achieved by more FAc treated eyes than by fellow eyes (41% versus 23%, p?<?.001; 28% versus 11%, p?<?.001; and 18% versus 4%, p?<?.001 at 12 months, respectively). Differences in the mean change in CFT (?113?µm versus ?13?µm, p?<?.001) and IOP (3.2?mmHg versus ?0.2?mmHg, p?<?.001) were also observed between study and fellow eyes at 12 months.

Conclusion: Visual acuity improved in study eyes over the 12 months following FAc implant and worsened in fellow eyes. Over the same period, study eyes showed a larger improvement in central foveal thickness. Intraocular pressure worsened in study eyes only. Change in visual acuity, central foveal thickness and intraocular pressure between FAc implant and the end of the 12-month follow-up period differed significantly between study and fellow eyes.