Concentrations of Pb and Other Associated Elements in Soil Dust 15 Years after the Introduction of Unleaded Fuel and the Human Health Implications in Pretoria, South Africa.

Leaded fuel has been reported to contain certain amounts of toxic trace metals such as Pb and Cadmium (Cd), which may have negative impacts on humans and the environment. Unleaded fuel was introduced to South Africa in 2006 with the aim of reducing and eventually eliminating the negative impact of leaded fuel on the environment. However, trace metals are usually nonbiodegradable, and it may therefore be necessary to monitor their presence in the environment so as to evaluate their possible impact on human health.

Irreversible oxidations of platelet proteins after riboflavin-UVB pathogen inactivation.

Pathogen inactivation technologies are known to alter in vitro phenotype and functional properties of platelets. Because pathogen inactivation generates reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress is considered as one of the plausible cause at the origin of the platelet storage lesion acceleration after treatment. To date proteomics has been used to document the protein variations to picture out the impact.

Proteomics of Stored Red Blood Cell Membrane and Storage-Induced Microvesicles Reveals the Association of Flotillin-2 With Band 3 Complexes.

The storage of erythrocyte concentrates (ECs) induces lesions that notably affect metabolism, protein activity, deformability of red blood cells (RBCs), as well as the release of oxygen. Band 3 is one of the proteins affected during the aging of RBCs. This membrane protein is an anion transporter, an anchor site for the cytoskeleton and other membrane proteins as well as a binding site for glycolytic enzymes and bears blood group antigens.

The antioxidant capacity of erythrocyte concentrates is increased during the first week of storage and correlated with the uric acid level.

Background And Objectives: Red blood cells (RBCs) suffer from lesions during cold storage, depending in part on their ability to counterbalance oxidative stress by activating their antioxidant defence. The aim of this study was to monitor the antioxidant power (AOP) in erythrocyte concentrates (ECs) during cold storage.

Materials And Methods: Six ECs were prepared in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM) additive solution and followed during 43 days.

Red blood cells ageing markers: a multi-parametric analysis.

Background: Red blood cells collected in citrate-phosphate-dextrose can be stored for up to 42 days at 4 °C in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol additive solution. During this controlled, but nevertheless artificial, ex vivo ageing, red blood cells accumulate lesions that can be reversible or irreversible upon transfusion. The aim of the present study is to follow several parameters reflecting cell metabolism, antioxidant defences, morphology and membrane dynamics during storage.