Low cadmium concentration in whole blood from residents of northern Sardinia (Italy) with special reference to smoking habits.

INTRODUCTION: The present study was initiated to investigate the cadmium concentrations in whole blood of Northern Sardinian, non-occupationally exposed adult subjects. Sardinia is a large Italian island which differs genetically and environmentally from other mainland Italian areas. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-three adults (157 females and 86 males) were selected in the study area from subjects who were undergoing blood collection for laboratory analysis during the period January 2005-May 2005. Whole blood was analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a Zeeman-effect background corrector (Perkin Elmer ZLS5100) and an auto sampler. The adopted analytical procedure uses the Stabilized Platform Temperature Furnace (STPF) technique. RESULTS: The mean value of Blood Cadmium Concentration (BCdC), expressed as Geometric Mean, was 0.32 pg/l (CI 95%: 0.31-0.34 l) in non-smokers to 034 pg/l (CI 95%: 0.30-0.39 pg/l) in ex-smokers up to 0.47 gg/ll(CI 95%: 0.42-0.53 pg/l) in smokers (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: The results show that BCdC levels in Northern Sardinian non-occupationally exposed adults are lower than levels found in many other regions, including those within Italy. Nevertheless, similar values have been detected in other European countries and cities. CONCLUSIONS: In relation to other reports in which data were analysed by strata for smoking habit and age, we found similar BCdC values among non smokers. However, Sardinian smokers seem to show lower levels of blood cadmium.

Implication of Bcl-2 family genes in basal and D-amphetamine-induced apoptosis in preneoplastic and neoplastic rat liver lesions.

Molecular mechanisms of basal and D-amphetamine (AMPH)-induced apoptosis were studied in rat liver nodules, 12 (N12) and 30 (N30) weeks after initiation, and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats subjected to resistant hepatocyte model. Basal apoptosis in hematoxylin/eosin- and propidium iodide-stained sections was higher in nodules and HCC than in normal livers. It sharply increased in all tissues 4 hours after AMPH treatment (10 mg/kg), and declined to basal levels at 8 to 12 hours in liver and N12, but remained high up to 18 hours in N30 and HCC. c-myc, Tgf-alpha, p53, and Bcl-X(S) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were higher, and Bcl-2 mRNA was lower in N12 and/or N30 and HCC than in normal liver. Four hours after AMPH injection, increase in c-myc and decreases in Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) mRNAs occurred in all tissues, whereas p53, Bax, and Bcl-X(S) mRNAs increased in N30 and HCC. These changes disappeared in liver and N12 at 18 hours, but persisted in N30 and HCC. c-Myc, P53, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins in normal liver and HCC +/- AMPH showed similar patterns. Tgf-beta1, Tgf-beta-RIII, CD95, and CD95L mRNA levels underwent slight or no changes in any tissue +/- AMPH. Basal Hsp27 expression was high in nodules and HCC, and was stimulated by AMPH in liver and N12, but not in N30 and HCC. These data suggest a role of dysregulation of Bcl-2 family genes and, at least in atypical lesions, of p53 overexpression, in basal and AMPH-induced apoptosis in nodules and HCCs. Hsp27 does not appear to sufficiently protect atypical lesions against apoptosis.