Assessing the ecotoxicological effects of long-term contaminated mine soils on plants and earthworms: relevance of soil (total and available) and body concentrations

The interactions and relevance of the soil (total and available) concentrations, accumulation, and acute toxicity of several essential and non-essential trace elements were investigated to determine their importance in environmental soil assessment. Three plant species (T. aestivum, R. sativum, and V. sativa) and E. fetida were simultaneously exposed for 21 days to long-term contaminated soils collected from the surroundings of an abandoned pyrite mine. The soils presented different levels of As and metals, mainly Zn and Cu, and were tested at different soil concentrations [12.5, 25, 50, and 100 % of contaminated soil/soil (w/w)] to increase the range of total and available soil concentrations necessary for the study. The total concentrations in the soils (of both As and metals) were better predictors of earthworm uptake than were the available concentrations. In plants, the accumulation of metals was related to the available concentrations of Zn and Cu, which could indicate that plants and earthworms accumulate elements from different pools of soil contaminants. Moreover, Zn and Cu, which are essential elements, showed controlled uptake at low concentrations. The external metal concentrations predicted earthworm mortality, whereas in plants, the effects on growth were correlated to the As and metal contents in the plants. In general, the bioaccumulation factors were lower at higher exposure levels, which implies the existence of auto-regulation in the uptake of both essential and non-essential elements by plants and earthworms.     

The effects of low-level diode laser irradiation on differentiation,antigenic profile,and phagocytic capacity of osteoblast-like cells (MG-63)

Previous in vivo and in vitro studies have reported that low-level diode laser therapy induces a biostimulatory effect, such as cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the laser irradiation of osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) can modify alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), antigenic profile, and phagocytic capacity. The MG-63 cell line was exposed to diode laser (ezLase) of 940 nm at 1–1.5 W/cm² and 3–4 J. ALP was evaluated by a spectrophotometric technique and antigenic expression analysis (CD 54, CD80, CD86, HLA-DR), and phagocytic activity was analyzed by flow cytometry. At 24 h, the treated groups showed an increased ALP, and the highest increase versus controls (P?=?0.002) was at the dose of 1 W/cm² and 3 J; this modulation of the antigenic profile translated into a reduced expression of CD54, CD86, and HLA-DR and a slightly decreased phagocytic capacity with respect to the nonirradiated control group at the different intensities and fluencies assayed. These results demonstrate that laser therapy can exert a biostimulatory effect on osteoblastic cells at different levels, which may be clinically useful in the regeneration of bone tissue.     

Cellular senescence determines endothelial cell damage induced by uremia

Renal dysfunction is closely associated with endothelial damage leading to cardiovascular disease. However, the extent to which endothelial damage induced by uremia is modulated by aging is poorly known. Aging can render endothelial cells more susceptible to apoptosis through an oxidative stress-dependent pathway. We examined whether senescence-associated to oxidative stress determines the injury induced by the uremia in endothelial cells.     

Acoustic characteristics of trill productions by groups of Spanish children

Contrary to the English /r/, which has been extensively analysed, there is very little information on the trilled consonants in Spanish. These sounds are in general difficult to produce for young Spanish children and occur later (than other consonant sounds) in normal development. This paper describes acoustic measurements made on the trill productions in Spanish children with varying degrees of speech intelligibility. The spectral (frequency, amplitude, C-V ratio) and temporal characteristics (duration of the trill, number of open and closed periods?apertures and occlusions-and duration of these periods) were studied in 45 children (Granada, Spain) between 3.0 and 9.6 years old, divided into 5 groups. The results reveal differences in spectral and temporal acoustic correlates of trill /r/ among the five speaker groups (e.g., the duration of the first aperture period was longer for the articulatory disordered group than for the normal control group). They seem to indicate, in particular, that children who have trouble learning to make the trill sound do little more than tap the alveolar ridge. Moreover, these children seem to use more of their tongues to make these gestures; also, they do not make many trills or make them very quickly.     

Westernization of the Filipino population resident in Rome: obesity, diabetes and hypertension

BACKGROUND: Aims of the present study were to examine the anthropometrical and metabolic characteristics of the Filipino population migrant to the Southern European city of Rome, Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the city of Rome. Three hundred thirty-five Filipinos (95 M/240 F, mean age: 44.0+/-9.8 years, mean residence in Italy: 12.9+/-6.3 years) were studied. Data were collected by standardized questionnaires; anthropometrical parameters, arterial pressure, and fasting capillary blood glucose (FCG) were measured. RESULTS: Abdominal obesity was found in 52.5%, and BMI >or= 25 kg/m(2) in 44.5% of subjects. History of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension were reported by 6.0 and 9.0% of subjects, respectively. Impaired fasting glucose was found in 13.1%, and FCG >or= 110 mg/dl in 18.5% of subjects. Altered systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure was found in 34.3% of subjects. About three-fourths of subjects were unaware of being diabetic and/or hypertensive. Years of Italy residence showed a direct significant correlation with the degree of changes in alimentary behaviours (rho=0.18, p=0.001), and with weight gain (rho=0.27, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed only age and waist circumference to be associated with both diabetes and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the first to examine the metabolic disorders in a migrant Filipino population resident in Rome, a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension was found. The alarming results emerging from this study should be seriously considered by public health practitioners and decision makers, and made known to the Filipinos resident in Europe.