Heavy metal bioaccumulation in honey bee matrix, an indicator to assess the contamination level in terrestrial environments.

The most significant risk factor for organisms living in an environment contaminated by heavy metals is the metal bioavailability. Therefore, an efficient ecotoxicological approach to metal contamination is the measure of bioaccumulation level in target organisms. In this work, we characterized the heavy metal bioaccumulation in honey bees, Apis mellifera ligustica, collected at 35 sites from Umbria (Central Italy). The comparison of our data with selected Italian investigations revealed metal bioaccumulation in honey bee matrix of the same order of magnitude, with Cd showing a higher variability. To generalize the results, we developed a Honeybee Contamination Index (HCI) based on metal bioaccumulation in honey bees. An application of the HCI to the present dataset revealed cases of low (sixteen sites), intermediate (eighteen sites), and high (one site) metal contaminations. The comparison of HCI values from the Umbrian dataset with values calculated for other Italian and European metadata showed that most of the Umbrian sites fell in the portion of low and intermediate contamination conditions. HCI represented a reliable tool that provided a piece of concise information on metal contamination in terrestrial environments. Parallel to this effort, we have determined, the metal concentrations in the airborne particulate matter (PM10) at three regional background-monitoring stations in Umbria. These stations are representative of the average air quality of the areas of the investigated apiaries. A comparative analysis of metal enrichment factors in PM10, and honey bees suggested that the contamination in the bees was related to the PM10 values only to a minor extent. On the other side, a clear enrichment of metals such as Cd, Mn, Zn, and Cu in the honey bees appeared to depend on very local conditions and was probably related to the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and the resuspension of the locally contaminated soils and agriculture residues.

Differences in the behavior of advanced glycation end products and advanced oxidation protein products in patients with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: The presence of oxidative stress in patients with asthma is well documented; however, the role of oxidative stress in allergic rhinitis has received less attention, although it is likely to be similar to that observed in patients with asthma. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are compounds formed by the transformation of macromolecules, including proteins, which can serve as densitometric markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in several diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of AGEs and AOPPs as new markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients affected by allergic rhinitis. METHODS: AGE and AOPP levels were determined in the sera of 25 patients with allergic rhinitis and 64 healthy controls. AGEs and AOPPs were detected using spectrofluorimetry and spectrophotometry, respectively. RESULTS: AGE levels in patients were significantly higher than those in controls (P < .0001). These levels were not affected by the presence of asthma. No statistically significant differences were found between AOPP levels in patients or controls (P = .38). CONCLUSIONS: Formation of AGEs and AOPPs may be accelerated in immunological and respiratory disorders such as asthma. Depending on the marker evaluated, the presence or absence of oxidative stress in allergic rhinitis is controversial. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the possible involvement of AGEs in allergic rhinitis. The different behavior observed for these 2 biomarkers is very likely due to the activation of specific related biochemical pathways (eg, the myeloperoxidase pathway) associated with the condition under study.

Differences in the Behavior of Advanced Glycation End Products and Advanced Oxidation Protein Products in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

Antecedentes: La presencia de estrés oxidativo en pacientes con asma bronquial ha sido bien documentada, sin embargo el papel del estrés oxidativo en las rinitis alérgicas no ha sido estudiado. Los productos finales de la glicación avanzada (AGEs), y los productos de la oxidación avanzada de proteínas (AOPPs) son compuestos formados por la transformación de macromoléculas, incluyendo proteínas, que pueden servir como marcadores densitométricos del estrés oxidativo y de la inflación en diferentes enfermedades. Objetivos: El motivo de este estudio fue investigar el papel de AGEs y AOPPs como nuevos marcadores del estrés oxidativo en la rinitis alérgica. Métodos: Estos marcadores fueron analizados en 25 pacientes con rinitis alérgica y en 64 sujetos sanos, mediante métodos de espectrofluorometría y espectrofotometría respectivamente. Resultados: Los resultados confirman la existencia de niveles elevados de AGEs en pacientes respecto a los controles sanos (p<0.0001). Estos niveles no se vieron influenciados por la presencia de asma. No encontramos diferencias significativas entre los niveles de AOPPs en pacientes y controles (p=0.38). Conclusiones: La formación de AGEs y AOPPs podría dispararse en alteraciones inmunológicas y patologías respiratorias tales como el asma bronquial. La presencia o no de estrés oxidativo en la rinitis alérgica es tema de controversia y depende del marcador evaluado. Este es el primer estudio que demuestra la posible implicación de AGEs en la rinitis alérgica. El diferente comportamiento observado para estos dos biomarcadores podría ser debido a las vías bioquímicas específicas (por ejemplo la vía de la mieloperoxidasa) relacionadas con la condición patológica bajo estudio (AU)

Background: The presence of oxidative stress in patients with asthma is well documented; however, the role of oxidative stress in allergic rhinitis has received less attention, although it is likely to be similar to that observed in patients with asthma. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) are compounds formed by the transformation of macromolecules, including proteins, which can serve as densitometric markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in several diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of AGEs and AOPPs as new markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients affected by allergic rhinitis. Methods: AGE and AOPP levels were determined in the sera of 25 patients with allergic rhinitis and 64 healthy controls. AGEs and AOPPs were detected using spectrofluorimetry and spectrophotometry, respectively. Results: AGE levels in patients were significantly higher than those in controls (P<.0001). These levels were not affected by the presence of asthma. No statistically significant differences were found between AOPP levels in patients or controls (P=.38). Conclusions: Formation of AGEs and AOPPs may be accelerated in immunological and respiratory disorders such as asthma. Depending on the marker evaluated, the presence or absence of oxidative stress in allergic rhinitis is controversial. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the possible involvement of AGEs in allergic rhinitis. The different behavior observed for these 2 biomarkers is very likely due to the activation of specific related biochemical pathways (eg, the myeloperoxidase pathway) associated with the condition under study (AU)

Proposed standard mass equations for European chub Leuciscus cephalus in Italy.

Total length (L(T)) and mass measurements of 28,596 specimens of European chub Leuciscus cephalus, collected from a variety of waterways across Italy, were used to compute standard mass (W(s)) equations by both empirical percentile (EmP) and regression line percentile (RLP) methods. The use of the EmP W(s) equation [log(10) W(s) = -4·79 + 2·68log(10) L(T) + 0·10(log(10) L(T))(2)] to compute relative mass (W(r)) of L. cephalus in Italy is suggested, as it was not influenced by length-related bias (L(T) range of application = 70-470 mm).

Cancer risk in patients with cold thyroid nodules: relevance of iodine intake, sex, age, and multinodularity.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the frequency of thyroid cancer in patients with cold thyroid nodules in relation to iodine intake, sex, age, and multinodularity in a consecutive series of patients with nodular thyroid diseases. PATIENTS: In the period from 1980 to 1990, 5,637 patients were studied: 4,176 patients were from an iodine-sufficient area (ISA) and 1,461 from an adjacent iodine-deficient area (IDA). Surgery was performed in 792 patients on the basis of a suspicious or malignant finding at fine-needle aspiration biopsy. RESULTS: The overall thyroid cancer frequency was 4.6% (259 patients had cancer). Iodine intake affected the cancer rate in patients with cold nodules. The frequency of cancer in patients with cold thyroid nodules was 5.3% in the ISA and 2.7% in the IDA. This difference, however, was significant only in females. Sex had a major influence on the malignant rate of cold nodules; although female patients were more frequently observed (n = 5,028) than male patients (n = 609), the frequency of cancer was significantly lower in female patients with cold nodules (4.2%) than in males (8.2%). Age was an important factor in both sexes. The proportion of nodules that were malignant was smallest in patients of the 4th decade and was greatest in patients younger than 30 years or older than 60 years. Multivariate analysis showed that sex and age interact in determining the cancer risk in patients with thyroid nodules. Finally, the frequency of thyroid cancer in patients with a solitary nodule was not different from the frequency in patients with multiple nodules. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that thyroid cancer risk in a patient with a nodular goiter varies markedly according to iodine intake, sex, and age but not in relation to multinodularity, as assessed by clinical examination. The knowledge of these epidemiologic aspects of thyroid cancer may increase the accuracy of the preoperative selection of patients with cold nodules of the thyroid.

Relation between steroid receptor status and body weight in breast cancer patients.

Obesity is known to adversely affect breast cancer prognosis. Since obesity is associated with increased oestrogen levels, and oestrogens are growth stimulators of oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinomas, we evaluated the relationship between the ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status of the neoplastic tissue and obesity in a series of 615 breast cancer patients. Both ER and PR concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with obesity by multiple regression analysis. Furthermore, the estimated probability of having an ER+/PR+carcinoma was significantly higher in obese patients (odds ratio 2.65, 95% confidence interval 1.56-4.48). This association between receptor-positive status and obesity was observed both in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients. Our data suggest, therefore, that obesity plays a role in determining the ER status of breast cancer and raise the possibility that ER presence in breast carcinomas occurring in obese patients is not indicative of a favourable prognosis.

The morphometric analysis of cell nuclei from fine needle aspirates of thyroid follicular lesions does not improve the diagnostic accuracy of traditional cytologic examination.

In order to evaluate the usefulness of the morphometric analysis in improving the accuracy of the traditional cytologic examination of follicular thyroid lesions, fine needle aspirates from 17 adenomatous goiters, 19 follicular adenomas and 18 follicular carcinomas were examined. In each case 20-50 follicles, accounting from 100 to 200 thyroid cells, were studied by operators unaware of the histologic diagnosis. Nuclear areas (mean, maximum and minimum area) were derived by means of a semiautomatic system and follicular thyroid lesions were classified into three groups (goiter, adenoma and follicular carcinoma) utilizing cut-off values. The results were then compared to the cytologic diagnosis carried out according to traditional (optic microscopy) criteria. Mean values of nuclear areas showed significant differences among the three groups, but a considerable overlap occurred in the size distribution of cell nuclei. At present, therefore, planimetric measurements of cell nuclei in fine needle aspirates do not improve the accuracy of standard cytologic examination in the differential diagnosis of follicular thyroid lesions.

[Receptor status and ovarian function in carcinoma of the breast]. / Status recettoriale e funzione ovarica nel carcinoma della mammella.

The Authors have evaluated the relationship between the presence of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors and the ovarian function in 321 consecutive and unselected women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer. A significant relationship was found between the presence and the concentration of steroid receptors (ER and PgR) in the neoplastic tissue and the ovarian function. The Authors confirm the importance of considering the menopausal status in the evaluation of the results of steroid receptor assay.