Risk of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer from occupational exposure to welding fumes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Our aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of cohort studies on risk of genitourinary (GU) cancers in workers exposed to welding fumes (WF). METHODS: We performed a systematic review of studies published on Pubmed, Scopus and Embase following PRISMA criteria. Two researchers selected cohort studies on WF exposure. From 2582 articles, 7 non-overlapping studies were included. Quality of studies was scored according to CASP. We run a random effects meta-analysis to calculate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of GU cancer, overall and stratified by cancer, country, and quality score. RESULTS: We included seven studies reporting results on GU cancers, including prostate, bladder and kidney cancer (PC, BC, and KC). The RR was 1.19 (95% CI = 1.07-1.32, 16 risk estimates) for GU cancer; 1.13 (95% CI = 0.90-1.42, 4 risk estimates) for PC; 1.26 (95% CI = 0.98-1.60, 7 risk estimates) for BC and 1.28 (95% CI = 1.12-1.47, 5 risk estimates) for KC. Heterogeneity was present in all meta-analyses (p < 0.001). The increased risk was more pronounced in North American than in European studies (respectively, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.18-1.55; OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01-1.27 p heterogeneity = 0.03). There was no heterogeneity according to quality score (p = 0.4). Data were insufficient to investigate associations by industry or welding type. Publication bias for each cancer was excluded. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests increased risk of KC and BC, but not of PC, in workers exposed to WF. Confounding by other occupational and non-occupational risk factors could not be excluded. Data were not adequate to address the risk of specific exposure circumstances.

Phenolic Compound Analysis and Pharmacological Screening of Vitex agnus-castus Functional Parts.

Vitex agnus-castus is a medicinal plant of the Verbenaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. This study is aimed at investigating the functional variability of phenolic compounds in different parts (leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and seeds) of Vitex agnus-castus methanolic extracts and at assessing their in vitro antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. The results of HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS indicated the presence of 25 phenolic compounds with a remarkable variability between plant parts; high levels were registered in chlorogenic, vanillic, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acids; hesperidin; and luteolin. V. agnus castus fruits and stems presented higher antioxidant activities. The extracts inhibited the growth of five pathogenic bacteria with MIC values documented between 7.81 and 31.25 mg/mL. In vitro antihyperglycemic effect revealed higher effect in flowers (2921.84 µg/mL) and seeds (2992.75 µg/mL) against α-glucosidase and of leaves (2156.80 µg/mL) and roots (2357.30 µg/mL) against α-amylase. The findings of this showed that V. agnus castus is a promising source for antidiabetic bioactive compounds. However, further investigations regarding the evaluation of in vivo antidiabetic effects of these compounds are needed.

Pharmacological and chemical properties of some marine echinoderms

Abstract Echinoderms have attracted the attention of scientists over the past few years after identifying a variety of unique structures endowed by interesting biological properties. However, the Moroccan coast biodiversity is still uninvestigated. In our ongoing attempts to valorize the rich Moroccan marine environment, this study aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from three echinoderms Astropecten irregularis, Luidia sarsi and Ophiura albida against the human pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica and Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, their antioxidant activities were tested using standard methods in addition to the antidiabetic activity which has been evaluated in vitro against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS analysis revealed a significant content of some phenolic compounds such as pyrogallol, gallic, sinapic, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acids whose existence can be related to the endophytic fungi and/or dietary intake whereas GC-MS analysis exhibited diverse chemical structures such as cholesterol, oleic acid and glycerol 1-palmitate.

Anabasis aretioides Coss. & Moq. phenolic compounds exhibit in vitro hypoglycemic, antioxidant and antipathogenic properties.

Background Based on our previous ethnobotanical survey, the non-investigated Saharan plant Anabasis aretioides Coss. & Moq., growing in the region of Errachidia, was selected for pharmacological investigation. In Moroccan traditional medicine, A. aretioides is being used for diabetes treatment. Thus, the current work aims at evaluating the antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the plant in relation to the digestive tract. Methods The different parts of the plant (aerial parts, roots, seeds) were extracted with methanol (MeOH) and screened in enzymatic assays for their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Furthermore, the phenolic compounds were analyzed using HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS. Results The MeOH extracts of A. aretioides aerial parts, roots, and seeds, respectively, inhibited α-amylase (IC50 of 3148.07 µg/mL, 2440.20 µg/mL, 3395.71 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 2940.59 µg/mL, 3521.81 µg/mL, 3393.83 µg/mL). Moreover, compared to aerial parts and seeds, the plant roots exhibited higher antioxidant capacity and a potent reducing power. In resazurin microplate assay, the plant parts displayed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 7.81 mg/mL to 31.25 mg/mL. Chemical analysis revealed 25 phenolic compounds, with chlorogenic acid as the main phenolic compound in the aerial parts, hesperidin in roots, and quercitrin in seeds. Conclusion Anabasis aretioides cited for treatment of diabetes shows promising antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as an ability to inhibit digestive enzyme, including α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Thus, our results explain in part the traditional use of this Saharan medicine and open doors for further in vivo mechanistic and functional studies.

Phytochemical and pharmacological variability in Golden Thistle functional parts: comparative study of roots, stems, leaves and flowers.

Scolymus hispanicus or the Golden Thistle, locally known as 'Guernina' or 'Taghediwt', is one of the most appreciated wild vegetables in Morocco. This study aims to characterise the functional chemical and pharmacological variability of Scolymus hispanicus parts (roots, stems, leaves and flowers). The chemical analysis revealed higher content of α-tocopherol in the flowers (2.79 ± 0.07 mg/100 g) and lead to the identification of 3 flavonoids and 13 phenolic acids, with high content of gallic acid in leaves (187.01 ± 10.19 mg/kg); chlorogenic (936.18 ± 92.66 mg/kg) and caffeic (4400.14 ± 191.43 mg/kg) acids in flowers, roots were much more higher in sinapic acid (0.25 ± 0.03 mg/kg) compared to the other parts. Moreover, Scolymus hispanicus ethanolic extracts exhibited interesting antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, promising anti-amylase and anti-glucosidase activities and relevant diuretic effect that confirms its traditional uses.