Metal pollution monitoring programs make use of organisms, such as mussels, as biomonitors to evaluate and compare the metal pollution status of coastal areas worldwide. Despite the widespread distribution of mussels of the genus Mytilus, there are places where these organisms are absent or where their abundance is insufficient for biomonitoring purposes, such as in the Canary Islands (Spain). This study considers the use of limpets of the genus Patella as alternative/complementary species in metal pollution monitoring, and compares the bioaccumulation capacity of mussels and limpets collected simultaneously during several sampling campaigns at 11 sampling sites along the continental Spanish Atlantic coastline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe complexity of emergency cases and the number of emergency patients have increased dramatically. Due to a reduced or even missing specialist medical staff in the emergency departments (EDs), medical knowledge is often used without professional supervision for the diagnosis. The result is a failure in diagnosis and treatment, even death in the worst case.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Gulf of Cádiz is an area historically affected by acid mine drainage and also by the discharge of two important rivers, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Metal and metalloid (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Al and Li) concentrations were measured in 33 surface sediment samples, collected in the continental shelf, inside the Ría de Huelva and the Bay of Cádiz, to assess the metal pollution status of this area. Geographical distribution was identified for different groups of metals: Cu, Cd, Zn, Hg and As were mainly associated with discharges of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, which have been historically affected by mining, into the Ría de Huelva.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe seasonal bioaccumulation of trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) in sea snail (Hexaplex trunculus) and sea cucumber (Holothuria polii) from Mar Menor lagoon were characterised. The highest concentrations of p,p'-DDE were detected in the central and south part of Mar Menor lagoon. However, the highest concentrations of metals in sea snail and holothurians were detected in the influence area of El Beal wadi.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to elucidate functional and molecular effects of mycophenolic acid (MPA) on non-lymphatic, kidney epithelial cells treated with transforming growth factor (TGF). MPA effects were studied using HK2 cells incubated with EGF and TGF. The reversibility of these effects was verified using guanosine and 8-aminoguanosine.
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