Elemental Concentration in the Biological Samples of Pakistani Male Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is an uncommon (rare) disease in men, approximately 1% of the total breast cancer cases in the world. By reason of the rare occurrence, there is no clinical or hospital study giving the information about the essential trace and toxic elements in the biological samples of male breast cancer patients. METHODS: The aim of current study was to estimate association among essential trace {zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu)} and toxic {cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)} elements in human biological samples particularly blood, serum, scalp hair, of male breast cancer patients (n = 14, age range 52 - 58 years) residents of Hyderabad, Pakistan. For comparative purposes, the biological samples of referent persons (n = 37) of the same age groups were also be analyzed. Microwave oven mediated digestion method was employed, and digestion of samples was carried out with the help of 2:1 mixture solution of HNO3 (65%) and H2O2 (30%). Atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for the determination of elemental concentrations from the microwave oven employed digested samples. RESULTS: The found average of essential elements (zinc, iron, and copper) in samples of male breast cancer patients was found to be lower, while cadmium and nickel were found to be higher, when compared with samples from referents (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data will be helpful for treatment of male breast cancer patients to improve his health and life.

Leaching of phthalate esters from different drinking stuffs and their subsequent biodegradation.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are mainly used as plasticizers, and their release in the environment during the manufacturing, use, and disposal has caused serious environmental health concerns, since some of them are suspected to be mutagens, hepatotoxic agents, and carcinogens. In the present study, leaching of PAEs from different drinking stuffs (water cooler, mineral water bottles) exposed to sunlight and baby feeders subjected to different heating treatments (boiling, autoclave and oven) was studied. Results showed that a total of 10 PAEs were leached and identified. Among them, dimethyl phthalate, bis(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate were the major leached PAEs found in the range 9-112.50 µg L-1. Boiling treatment was found safer for baby feeders as PAE leaching was ~26-54% less as compared to other two treatments. The leached PAEs in water samples were then subjected to biodegradation experiment with Bacillus thuringiensis strain at optimized conditions (time 72 h and 30 °C). Hence, leaching of hazardous PAEs from different water stuffs is alarming and needs immediate attention. Moreover, B. thuringiensis strain was found effective for PAE remediation (75-96% degradation) at neutral pH. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Multipesticide residue levels in UHT and raw milk samples by GC-µECD after QuEChER extraction method.

In the present study, milk samples including raw and ultra-high temperature (UHT) processed milk were analyzed for pesticide residue levels, including five pesticides, viz chloripyrifos, endosulfan (α and ß), profenofos and bifenthrin by gas chromatography microelectron capture detector (GC-µECD) after extraction by QuEChERS method. Further confirmation of the pesticide residue was done by GC-MS. The pesticide residual level in raw and UHT milk samples (n = 70) was determined in the range of 0.1-30 µg L(-1). All UHT processed milk samples contain pesticide residues within permissible limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO); however, among raw milk samples, chloripyrifos (12 %), α (24 %), and ß (14 %) endosulfan were found above the maximum residue limit (MRL). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of these four pesticide residues were also calculated as 1.32, 16.16, 5.30, 10.20, and 9.93 µg kg(-1) body weight for chloripyrifos, endosulfan α, profenofos, endosulfan ß, and bifenthrin, respectively. It is concluded that the raw milk samples showed higher prevalence of pesticide residues as compared to UHT processed milk. Graphical abstract Determination of pesticide residues in dairy milk by GC-µECD after QuEChERS extraction method.

Estimation of Nickel in Different Smokeless Tobacco Products and Their Impact on Human Health of Oral Cancer Patients.

It has been extensively investigated that the chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products may enhance the inflammation of the oral cavity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between nickel (Ni) exposure via different SLT products with oral cancer (different sites) incidence in the population of Sindh, Pakistan. The different brands of SLT products (mainpuri, gutkha, and moist snuff) commonly consumed by the studied population were analyzed for Ni contents. The biological samples of oral cancer patients and noncancerous control subjects of both genders, who have or have not consumed SLT products, were collected. The concentration of Ni in biological samples and SLT products were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by using certified reference materials. The results of this study showed that the Ni level was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients compared to controls (P < 0.01). The study suggested that exposure of Ni as a result of chewing different SLT products may be synergistic with risk factors associated with oral cancer.

Correlation of Arsenic Levels in Smokeless Tobacco Products and Biological Samples of Oral Cancer Patients and Control Consumers.

It has been extensively reported that chewing of smokeless tobacco (SLT) can lead to cancers of oral cavity. In present study, the relationship between arsenic (As) exposure via chewing/inhaling different SLT products in oral cancer patients have or/not consumed SLT products was studied. The As in different types of SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri, and snuff) and biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of different types of oral cancer patients and controls were analyzed. Both controls and oral cancer patients have same age group (ranged 30-60 years), socio-economic status, localities, and dietary habits. The concentrations of As in SLT products and biological samples were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data of present study indicates that the concentration of As was significantly higher in scalp hair and blood samples of oral cancer patients than those of controls (p<0.001). It was also observed that the values of As were two- to threefolds higher in biological samples of controls subjects, consuming SLT products as compared to those have none of these habits (p>0.01). The intake of As via consuming different SLT may have synergistic effects, in addition to other risk factors associated with oral cancer.

Contamination profile of aflatoxin M1 residues in milk supply chain of Sindh, Pakistan.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a potent carcinogen, teratogen and mutagen found in the milk when lactating animals consume feed contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In the present study, the contamination of AFM1 was evaluated in the milk supply chain of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. For the broader profiling of targeted toxin, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the determination of AFM1 in both branded and non-branded milk samples. The results showed that 96.43% of samples (81 out of 84) were contaminated with AFM1 in the range of 0.01-0.76 µg/L. The average contamination level was 0.38 µg/L. The determined values of AFM1 in the collected milk samples were above the standard limit of the European Commission while 70% of the samples exceeded levels established by United States regulations. According to these results, the estimated daily intake of AFM1 for adults was determined as 3.1 ng/kg of body weight per day.

Rapid detection of melamine adulteration in dairy milk by SB-ATR-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Melamine is a nitrogenous chemical substance used principally as a starting material for the manufacture of synthetic resins. Due to its very high proportion of nitrogen melamine has been added illegitimately to foods and feeds to increase the measured protein content, which determines the value of the product. These issues prompted private as well as governmental laboratories to develop methods for the analysis of melamine in a wide variety of food products and ingredients. Owing to this fact present study is aimed to use single bounce attenuated total reflectance (SB-ATR) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method as an effective rapid tool for the detection and quantification of melamine in milk (liquid and powder). Partial least-squares (PLS) models were established for correlating spectral data to melamine concentration with R(2)>0.99, and RMSEC 0.370. Linear calibration curves were obtained over the calibration range of 25-0.0625%. The LOD and LOQ of the method was 0.00025% (2.5 ppm) and 0.0015% (15 ppm) respectively. Proposed SB-ATR-FTIR method requires little or no sample preparation with an assay time of 1-2 min.

Determination of cadmium and zinc in vegetables with online FAAS after simultaneous pre-concentration with 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone immobilised on naphthalene.

The concentration of cadmium and zinc in vegetables was determined by using an online flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer after simultaneous pre-concentration based on the complexation of Cd and Zn with 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone immobilised on naphthalene. The effect of pH, sample flow rate and amount of 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone on adsorption was investigated. After pre-concentration, Cd and Zn were eluted from the sorbent with hydrochloric acid. A pre-concentration factor of 20 and 33 was achieved for Cd and Zn, respectively. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.2-1 µg ml(-1) for Cd and Zn. The regression coefficients for the lines were 0.9914 and 0.9989 for Cd and Zn, respectively. The detection limits were calculated as three times the standard deviation of nine replicates of blanks: 0.00123 µg ml(-1) for Cd and 0.00176 µg ml(-1) for Zn.

Rapid determination of free fatty acid content in waste deodorizer distillates using single bounce-attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy.

A simple, rapid, economical, and environmentally friendly analytical method was developed for the quantitative assessment of free fatty acids (FFAs) present in deodorizer distillates and crude oils by single bounce-attenuated total reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy. Partial least squares was applied for the calibration model based on the peak region of the carbonyl group (C=O) from 1726 to 1664 cm(-1) associated with the FFAs. The proposed method totally avoided the use of organic solvents or costly standards and could be applied easily in the oil processing industry. The accuracy of the method was checked by comparison to a conventional standard American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) titrimetric procedure, which provided good correlation (R = 0.99980), with an SD of +/- 0.05%. Therefore, the proposed method could be used as an alternate to the AOCS titrimetric method for the quantitative determination of FFAs especially in deodorizer distillates.

Selective oxidation and reduction reactions with cofactor regeneration mediated by galactitol-, lactate-, and formate dehydrogenases immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles.

Rapid immobilization with the one-pot purification of galactitol dehydrogenase (GatDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) is achieved by using iminodiacetic acid (IDA) with chelated Co(2+) modified magnetic nanoparticles as a carrier. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from recombinant Escherichia coli and FDH commencing Candida methylica were used as an auxiliary enzyme for the regeneration of NADH/NAD(+) with a representative synthesis of (S)-1,2-propanediol and l-tagatose starting from hydroxyacetone and galactitol. The affinity magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while the purity of GatDH and FDH was assayed by SDS-PAGE analysis. The immobilized two-enzyme system, reflecting the pH dependence of its constituent enzymes, showed optimal activity at pH 7 and 8 for (S)-1,2-propanediol and l-tagatose production, respectively. The immobilized enzyme system retained up to 70% of its activity after one week of repeated use. The use of affinity magnetic nanoparticles offers the advantage of a one-pot purification of His(6)-tagged GatDH and FDH followed by the production of rare sugar and chiral diol.

Simple gas chromatographic method for the quantification of total cholesterol in fish meats.

Six fish species-Cirrhinus mrigala (Morakhi), Labeo rohita (Danbhro), Catla catla (Thalli), Wallago attu (Jarko), Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass), and Cyprimus carpio (Gulfam)--commonly found in the Pakistani Indus river, were selected for fat and cholesterol evaluation. Fat content was quantified by the Folch method and cholesterol content was determined by a simple GC method. The application of the proposed method to quantify cholesterol content revealed variations among the six breeds evaluated. The breeds studied contained 0.80-1.95% fat, indicating that all investigated fishes were lean; significant variation was found in cholesterol content, and ranged between 72 and 392 mg/100 g. Standard addition analyses showed that the method was accurate, as the recovery of cholesterol varied from 95 to 103%, with a coefficient of variance not more than 5.6%. The results showed that, after the development of suitable calibration, within 11 min, the cholesterol could be accurately determined by GC.

Chemoenzymatic conversion of linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid.

An efficient chemoenzymatic method for preparing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) using free linoleic acid (LA) as a substrate is described. In the first step, LA was transformed into 10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic acid (HA) by the whole cells of Lactobacillus plantarum after 48 h of incubation. The preincubation of whole cells with 0.03% LA resulted in a better yield of HA (480 mg/g) compared to cells grown without LA. In a second fast microwave step, HA was converted to cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid in the presence of iodine as a catalyst over a silica gel surface. The advantage of this method in preparing cis-9,trans-11 CLA is simple via the whole cell bioconversion of LA into HA via L. plantarum followed by the fast microwave-assisted synthesis of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in higher yields.

Intramuscular fatty acid profile of longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscle from Pateri goats fed under traditional feeding system of Sindh, Pakistan.

The present study was undertaken to assess the intramuscular fatty acid composition of different muscles taken from male Pateri (n=15) goats, reared on naturally grown grasses, leaves and pods of Acacia nilotica and crushed cereal, under traditional way of feeding. Goats were slaughtered with an average weight of 68±7kg and age 12±1 month. The samples were taken from longissimus dorsi region (between the 12th and 13th rib) and distal region of semitendinosus muscle. Results of total fat content and fatty acids composition does not show significant (P>0.05) variation among muscles investigated. The fatty acid composition of muscles studied were primarily composed of oleic (31.50-33.38%), followed by palmitic acid (19.84-22.05%) and stearic acid (22.25-24.91%) respectively. Muscle tissue in general contained an average 51.13% of saturated fatty acids and 48.87% of unsaturated fatty acids. The mean conjugated linoleic acid was found 0.41%, 0.43% and 0.47% in ribeye and loin portion of longissimus dorsi muscle and distal region of semitendinosus muscle, respectively.