Arsenic accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) crops and its potential risk for human consumption.

Exposure to arsenic (As) is considered one of the primary health risks humans face worldwide. This study was conducted to determine As absorption by broad beans and lettuce crops grown in soil with As contents and irrigated with water contaminated with this toxic element, in Pastos Chicos, Jujuy (Argentina). Total dry biomass (TDB) and total As were determined in soils, roots, leaves, pods and seeds. These data were used to determine several parameters, such as translocation (TF) and bioconcentration (BCF) factors, target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR). Broad bean plants had the lowest biomass production when exposed to As in irrigation water and soil. Lettuce plants presented TDB reductions of 33.3 and 42.8% when grown in soil polluted with As, and in control soil under irrigation with contaminated water, respectively. The presence of this toxicant in broad bean seeds and lettuce leaves (edible parts) exceeded the limits established by Código Alimentario Argentino, i.e. 0.10 and 0.30 mg/kg, respectively. THQ values for lettuce leaves were higher than 1, the same as those for broad bean seeds when grown in soil with As contents and irrigated with arsenic-contaminated water, thus suggesting that consumers would run significant risks when consuming these vegetables. Furthermore, this type of exposure to As implied a CR that exceeded the acceptable 1 × 10-4 risk level. Hence, we may conclude that consuming lettuce and broad beans grown at the evaluated site brings about considerable health risks for local residents.

Anti-obesity properties of the strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 in Zücker fatty rats.

We evaluated the effect of oral administration of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 strain in Zücker fatty rats. The Zücker fatty rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=10 each) and administered either B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (1010 cfu/day) suspended in skim milk, or skim milk alone (control group). Each treatment was administered in drinking bottles from week 5 until week 17 of age. A lean Zücker rat group (standard group) was included to provide normal values for the Zücker strain. This group was administered skim milk in the drinking bottle for the same experimental period as Zücker fatty rats. Body weight gain was greater in the fatty control group than in the fatty rats treated daily with B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145. Furthermore, dry and liquid food intake significantly decreased in the treated Zücker fatty group and these rats also showed decreased plasma ghrelin levels as compared with the Zücker fatty control group. B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 intake also decreased plasma tumour necrosis factor-α (a proinflammatory cytokine) and plasma malondialdehyde (a biomarker of oxidative stress). Moreover, the ratio plasma total cholesterol/plasma cholesterol transported by high-density lipoproteins, considered as an index for cardiovascular disease, also significantly decreased in the Zücker fatty rats treated with B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145. By contrast, this bacterial strain significantly increased plasma adiponectin (an insulin-sensitising adipokine), but did not produce significant effects on triglyceride levels or glucose metabolism biomarkers. Although further research is required to confirm B. animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 is an efficient anti-obesity treatment in humans, the results obtained in this study are promising and point to the health and anti-obesity properties of this bacterial strain.

Nitric oxide mediates the antihypertensive and vascular relaxing effects of a soluble cocoa fiber product in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The involvement of endothelial-relaxing factors on the vascular and antihypertensive effects of a cocoa fiber product (CFP) obtained from cocoa husks was studied. We carried out in vitro experiments with aorta rings from untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in vivo experiments with SHR. CFP did not relax the endothelium denuded aorta rings and N(W)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) partially blocked the vascular relaxing and antihypertensive effects of CFP. Nevertheless, indomethacin did not modify these effects. Nitric oxide mediates therefore the antihypertensive and aorta relaxing effects of CFP in SHR.

[Airway foreign bodies removal with flexible bronchoscopy in children]. / Extracción de cuerpos extraños en la vía aérea en niños mediante fibrobroncoscopia.

INTRODUCTION: Aspiration of foreign bodies in children is a frequent and potentially serious condition. Traditionally it has been solved by rigid bronchoscopy. Nowadays an increasing number of authors support the use of flexible bronchoscopy for its resolution. AIM: Analyze our experience in airway foreign body removal in children using flexible bronchoscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 65 patients diagnosed of foreign body aspiration with a mean age of 3.65 + 3.1; 60% males and 40% females. We compared two historical cohorts of homogeneous distribution. The first one (group A), from 1994 to 1998, included 41 children treated by rigid bronchoscopy, and the second one (Group B) (1999-2006) 24 patients treated with the flexible bronchoscope. We studied: rate of success of initial extraction (RSIE), foreign body localization, type of foreign body, hospital stay, complications and mortality. Statistical analysis was done using t-student for cuantitative variables, and chi square for cualitative. Only a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data are presented as mean +/- standard error of the mean. RESULTS: Group A had a medium hospital stay of 1.89 + 2.6 days. RSIE was 85.36%. Six patients needed a second therapeutic procedure (5 rigid bronchoscopies, 1 flexible brochoscopy). Complication rate was 4.87%: 2 cases of bronchitis. Group B presented a medium hospital stay of 1.34 +/- 0.27 days with a RSIE of 70.83%, needing a second intervention 7 children (4 fiberbonchoscopies, 3 rigid bronchoscopies). Postextraction complications in this group consisted of 1 bronchitis episode and a pneumothorax in 2 patients (8.33%). No deaths occurred in any group. No statistically significant differences were found in hospital stay, RSIE, type of second therapeutic procedure and complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that flexible bronchoscopy removal of airway foreign bodies is safe and efficient; therefore, we think that it should be taken into account as first choice method of treatment at any age.

Antibodies to yeast Sm motif 1 cross-react with human Sm core polypeptides.

Two regions common to all UsnRNP core polypeptides have been described: Sm motif 1 and Sm motif 2. Rabbits were immunized with a 22 amino-acid peptide containing one segment of Sm motif 1 (YRGTLVSTDNYFNLQLNEAEEF, corresponding to residues 11-32) from yeast F protein. After immunization, the rabbit sera contained antibodies that not only reacted specifically with the peptide from yeast F protein but also cross-reacted with Sm polypeptides from mammals; that is, with purified human U1snRNPs. The results suggest that the peptide used and human Sm polypeptides contain a common feature recognized by the polyclonal antibodies. A large collection of human systemic lupus erythematosus sera was assayed using the yeast peptide as an antigen source. Seventy per cent of systemic lupus erythematosus sera contain an antibody specificity that cross-reacts with the yeast peptide.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in human milk: effects on growth, morbidity, and duration of lactation.

We followed 858 children from birth to one year of age to determine whether the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in breast milk affected their growth or health. Neither chemical showed an adverse effect on weight or frequency of physician visits for various illnesses, although differences were seen between breast-fed and bottle-fed children, with bottle-fed children being heavier and having more frequent gastroenteritis and otitis media. Children of mothers with higher levels of DDE were breast-fed for markedly shorter times, but adjustments for possible confounders and biases did not change the findings. In absence of any apparent effect on the health of the children, we speculate that DDE may be interfering with the mother's ability to lactate, possibly because of its estrogenic properties.

Neonatal effects of transplacental exposure to PCBs and DDE.

Neonatal effects of transplacental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) were examined in a study of 912 infants. Birth weight, head circumference, and neonatal jaundice showed no relationship to PCBs or DDE. We also administered the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scales, which are psychologic and neurologic tests designed for use in newborn infants. The results of these tests showed that higher PCB levels were associated with hypotonicity and hyporeflexia and that higher DDE levels were associated with hyporeflexia.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in human milk: effects of maternal factors and previous lactation.

The authors measured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in maternal serum, cord blood, placenta, and serial samples of breast milk from 868 women. Almost all samples of breast milk showed detectable levels of both chemicals. Overall, values for DDE in this study are within the range of those found previously, whereas those for PCBs are somewhat higher. Possible causes of variation in levels were investigated. For DDE, older women, Black women, cigarette smokers, and women who consumed sport fish during pregnancy had higher levels; only age and race showed large effects. For PCBs, older women, women who regularly drink alcohol, and primiparae had higher levels. In addition, both chemicals showed modest variation across occupational groupings. Casual exposure to a PCB spill did not result in chemical levels different from background. In general, women have higher levels in their first lactation and in the earlier samples of a given lactation, and levels decline both with time spent breast-feeding and with number of children nursed. These striking declines are presumably a measure of exposure to the child.