Effect of antioxidant potential on severity of cirrhosis in humans / Efecto del potencial antioxidante para las complicaciones de la cirrosis en los seres humanos

Background/Aims: to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. Methods: fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patient’s clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. Results: the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. Conclusion: we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis (AU)

Introducción/Objetivos: examinar la relación entre los potenciales antioxidantes y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en los seres humanos. Métodos: quince pacientes con cirrosis hepática (nueve sujetos - grupo Child B, y seis sujetos - grupo Child C) y nueve sujetos control fueron incluidos en el estudio. Los principales criterios que se tuvieron en cuenta para caracterizar el diagnóstico de la cirrosis y sus complicaciones fueron la AST: relación de ALT, AST índice de la relación de plaquetas, clasificación Bonacini, clasificación MELD y clasificación de Child. Estos parámetros fueron determinados con base en los resultados de laboratorio y los registros clínicos del paciente. Se midieron los niveles de Zn, ácido ascórbico (AA) y los parámetros de estrés oxidativo en muestras de sangre de pacientes cirróticos. Resultados: el análisis de los niveles plasmáticos de Se y AA mostraron bajas concentraciones en los pacientes cirróticos en comparación con los sujetos control (P < 0,05); sin embargo, hubo una correlación positiva entre el plasma de Se y los parámetros de gravedad de la cirrosis en pacientes del grupo Child B y C. En la actividad de las enzimas antioxidantes catalasa solamente fue menor en los pacientes del grupo Child C, en comparación con el grupo control. Conclusión: se encontraron niveles bajos en plasma de Se y AA en pacientes cirróticos. Sin embargo, no está claro por qué los niveles de selenio tienden a aumentar con la gravedad de la cirrosis hepática (AU)

Drosophila melanogaster - an embryonic model for studying behavioral and biochemical effects of manganese exposure.

Embryonic animals are especially susceptible to metal exposure. Manganese (Mn) is an essential element, but in excess it can induce toxicity. In this study we used Drosophila melanogaster as an embryonic model to investigate biochemical and behavioral alterations due to Mn exposure. Flies were treated with standard medium supplemented with MnCl2 at 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM or 1 mM from the egg to the adult stage. At 0.5 mM and 1 mM Mn, newly ecloded flies showed significantly enhanced locomotor activity when assessed by negative geotaxis behavior. In addition, a significant increase in Mn levels (p < 0.0001) was observed, while Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and S levels were significantly decreased. A significant drop in cell viability occurred in flies exposed to 1 mM Mn. There was also an induction of reactive oxygen species at 0.5 mM and 1 mM Mn (p < 0.05). At 1 mM, Mn increased Catalase (p < 0.005), Superoxide Dismutase (p < 0.005) and Hsp83 (p < 0.0001) mRNA expression, without altering Catalase or Superoxide Dismutase activity; the activity of Thioredoxin reductase and Glutatione-S-transferase enzymes was increased. Mn treatment did not alter ERK or JNK1/2 phosphorylation, but at 1 mM caused an inhibition of p38(MAPK) phosphorylation. Together these data suggest mechanisms of adaptation in the fly response to Mn exposure in embryonic life.

Chemical phosphorus removal: a clean strategy for piggery wastewater management in Brazil.

The intensive production of animal protein is known to be an environmental polluting activity, especially if the wastewater produced is not managed properly. Swine production in Brazil is growing, and technologies to manage all pollutants present in the wastewater effluent are needed. This work presents a case of study of phosphorus (P) removal from piggery wastewater using Ca(OH)2, and demonstrates the feasibility of this strategy for P management. The effluent of a swine manure treatment plant was treated with Ca(OH)2. According to the addition of Ca(OH)2 the pH of the effluent ranged from 8.0 to 10.0. Different conditions of sludge dewatering were evaluated, and the chemical composition of sludge was investigated. Ion chromatography analysis of effluent samples showed that 92% of total P (TP) was present as soluble P (SP) whereas 75% of SP species were present as phosphate. The efficiency of P removal was typically 90% at pH 8.5 and higher than 98% at pH 10.5. The sludge was separated by sedimentation, centrifugation or filtration and dried. The TP content of dried sludge was 9.3% (w/w). X-ray diffraction analysis of the dry sludge showed the presence of amorphous compounds of Ca and P, which is an indication that the sludge obtained from the swine manure treatment has a potential for application as biofertilizer.

Cadmium and mineral nutrient accumulation in potato plantlets grown under cadmium stress in two different experimental culture conditions.

In order to evaluate the effect of cadmium (Cd(2+)) toxicity on mineral nutrient accumulation in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), two cultivars named Asterix and Macaca were cultivated both in vitro and in hydroponic experiments under increasing levels of Cd(2+) (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 microM in vitro and 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 microM in hydroponic culture). At 22 and 7 days of exposure to Cd(2+), for the in vitro and hydroponic experiment, respectively, the plantlets were separated into roots and shoot, which were analyzed for biomass as well as Cd(2+), and macro (Ca(2+), K(+) and Mg(2+)) and micronutrient (Cu(2+), Fe(2+), Mn(2+) and Zn(2+)) contents. In the hydroponic experiment, there was no reduction in shoot and root dry weight for any Cd(2+) level, regardless of the potato cultivar. In contrast, in the in vitro experiment, there was an increase in biomass at low Cd(2+) levels, while higher Cd(2+) levels caused a decrease. In general, Cd(2+) decreased the macronutrient and micronutrient contents in the in vitro cultured plantlets in both roots and shoot of cultivars. In contrast, the macronutrient and micronutrient contents in the hydroponically grown plantlets were generally not affected by Cd(2+). Our data suggest that the influence of Cd(2+) on nutrient content in potato was related to the level of Cd(2+) in the substrate, potato cultivar, plant organ, essential element, growth medium and exposure time.