Human tissue lead (Pb) levels and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Aim: To combine the current scientific literature evidence and elucidate the differences of lead (Pb) bioaccumulation in human tissues by comparing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and healthy controls.

Methods: We systematically searched for case-control studies on the association of Pb levels with ALS, in human cells, tissues, and body fluids (nervous tissue, muscle, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, skin appendages). Then, we performed a meta-analysis for all the tissues in which at least five case-control studies were available: whole blood (9 studies), serum/plasma (5 studies), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (6 studies).

Metals in bones of the middle-aged inhabitants of Sardinia island (Italy) to assess nutrition and environmental exposure.

Metals in bones of 72 subjects lived between the twelfth and eighteenth century AC and collected in four Sardinian (Italian insular region) burial sites (Alghero, Bisarcio, Geridu, and Sassari) were determined and used as biomarkers to evaluate diet and potential social-environmental differences. Concentrations of Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sr, and Zn were quantified in different types of compact bone (femur, fibula, humerus, radius, tibia, ulna) by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry previous acidic digestion and differences among the various burial sites, centuries, types of bone, gender, and age were explored by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results indicated differences between sites in terms of diet: Bisarcio (inland village) had increased ratios of Ba/Ca and Zn/Ca due to higher incidence of vegetables, cereals, and animal foods in the diet; Geridu (coastal village) showed increased Sr/Ca ratio indicating foods of plant and marine origin that were predominant; Alghero (coastal site) and Sassari (inland site) displayed prevalently a mixed diet reflecting a higher economy and food imports.

Essential trace elements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): Results in a population of a risk area of Italy.

Sardinian (Italy) island population has a uniquely high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Essential trace element levels in blood, hair, and urine of ALS Sardinian patients were investigated in search of valid biomarkers to recognize and predict ALS. Six elements (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn) were measured in 34 patients compared to 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls by a validated method.

Influence of metals on rhinosinusal polyposis in Sardinian population (Italy).

Metals have strong toxic effects in humans and can act as immunoregulatory factors. The purpose of our study was to determine whether the concentrations of metals are associated with the clinical course of nasal polyposis (NP). We measured the concentrations of 10 metals and non-metal (Zn, Mn, Se, Fe, Cr, Ni, Pb, Al, Cd, and Cu) in 58 patients with NP, and 29 controls with a healthy nasal mucosa.

Immune cell impact of three differently coated lipid nanocapsules: pluronic, chitosan and polyethylene glycol.

Lipid nanocapsules (NCs) represent promising tools in clinical practice for diagnosis and therapy applications. However, the NC appropriate functionalization is essential to guarantee high biocompatibility and molecule loading ability. In any medical application, the immune system-impact of differently functionalized NCs still remains to be fully understood.

Level of neurotoxic metals in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population-based case-control study.

The association between exposure to toxic metals and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was explored in a population-based case-control study in the Sardinia island (Italy), a region characterized by elevated rates of ALS cases. In 34 patients with ALS (mean age, 62 ± 10 years) and 30 controls (mean age, 65 ± 11 years), Al, Cd, Hg, Mn and Pb were determined in blood, hair and urine by sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Results indicated that, in blood, concentrations of Al (p=0.

Association of trace elements with lipid profiles and glycaemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in northern Sardinia, Italy: An observational study.

Sardinia is an Italian region with a high incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to determine the associations of trace elements with lipid profiles and glycaemic control in patients with T1DM. A total of 192 patients with T1DM who attended the Unit of Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases in Sassari, Italy, were enrolled.

Blood metals concentration in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Mechanisms for the onset of diabetes and the development of diabetic complications remain under extensive investigations. One of these mechanisms is abnormal homeostasis of metals, as either deficiency or excess of metals, can contribute to certain diabetic outcomes. Therefore, this paper will report the blood levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in subjects with type 1 diabetes (n = 192, mean age 48.

Cadmium modifies the cell cycle and apoptotic profiles of human breast cancer cells treated with 5-fluorouracil.

Industrialisation, the proximity of factories to cities, and human work activities have led to a disproportionate use of substances containing heavy metals, such as cadmium (Cd), which may have deleterious effects on human health. Carcinogenic effects of Cd and its relationship with breast cancer, among other tumours, have been reported. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug used to treat solid tumours of the colon, breast, stomach, liver, and pancreas.

Blood biomonitoring of metals in subjects living near abandoned mining and active industrial areas.

A human blood biomonitoring campaign to detect the environmental exposure to metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn) in 265 subjects was performed in the South-Western part of Sardinia (an Italian island) that is a particular area with a great history of coal and metal mining (Pb/Zn mainly) activities and large industrial structures (as metallurgy). Subjects living near the industrial plant area had geometric means (GM) of blood Cd (0.79 μg/l), Cu (971 μg/l), Mn (12.

Cytoskeletal proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid as biomarker of multiple sclerosis.

The axonal cytoskeleton is a finely organized system, essential for maintaining the integrity of the axon. Axonal degeneration is implicated in the pathogenesis of unremitting disability of multiple sclerosis (MS). Purpose of this study is to evaluate levels of cytoskeletal proteins such as neurofilament light protein (NFL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and β-tubulin (β-Tub) isoforms II and III in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients and their correlation with MS clinical indices.

Diet and nutrients are contributing factors that influence blood cadmium levels.

Studies suggested the intake of Cd from diet can be approximately equivalent to that from smoking. Moreover, a mutual metabolic influence between Cd and nutrients has been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blood cadmium concentration (BCdC) and food consumption, nutrients intake (Ca, Fe, Zn, vitamin C, and vitamin D), tobacco smoking, and some other variables (age, body mass index, and residence) in 243 adults living in the Italian island of Sardinia (Sassari Province).

Assessment of reference ranges for blood Cu, Mn, Se and Zn in a selected Italian population.

The reference ranges for blood Cu, Mn, Se and Zn of 215 adult subjects non-occupationally exposed and living in the Nuoro province (Sardinia, insular Italy) were assessed. Metals were determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion of blood. The blood reference ranges estimated as P5-P95 percentiles (geometric mean, GM) were 776-1495μg/L (1036μg/L) for Cu; 4.

Reference intervals for blood Cd and Pb in the general population of Sardinia (Italy).

The reference values (RVs) for blood Cd and Pb of 215 adult subjects non-occupationally exposed and living in Sardinia (insular Italy) were assessed. Age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking and living area were used to stratify the reference group. After collection from volunteers, samples were acid digested in a microwave oven and metals were determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Creating prodynorphin-expressing stem cells alerted for a high-throughput of cardiogenic commitment.

Background: The development of cell therapy for the rescue of damaged heart muscle is a major area of inquiry. Within this context, the establishment of a cardiogenic cell line may remarkably facilitate the molecular dissection of cardiac fate specification, a low-efficiency and still poorly understood process, paving the way for novel approaches in the use of stem cells for cardiac repair.

Methods & Results: We used GTR1 cells, a derivative of mouse R1 embryonic stem cells bearing the puromycin-resistance gene driven by the cardiomyocyte-specific alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter, affording a gene trapping selection of a virtually pure population of embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Turning on stem cell cardiogenesis with extremely low frequency magnetic fields.

Modulation of stem cell differentiation is an important assignment for cellular engineering. Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, but the efficiency is typically low. Here, we show that exposure of mouse ES cells to extremely low frequency magnetic fields triggered the expression of GATA-4 and Nkx-2.

Butyric and retinoic mixed ester of hyaluronan. A novel differentiating glycoconjugate affording a high throughput of cardiogenesis in embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into specialized cells, including cardiac myocytes, but the efficiency is typically low and the process is incompletely understood. Achieving a high throughput of cardiogenesis from pluripotent cells is therefore a major requirement for future approaches in cardiac cell therapy. Here, we developed a novel ester of hyaluronan linked to both butyric and retinoic acid (HBR), coaxing pluripotent ES cells into a cardiogenic decision.