Unhealthy Levels of Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Mexican Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes and Its Association to Altered Expression of miRNAs Involved with Metabolic Disease.

Several studies indicate that bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates may have a role in the development of metabolic diseases using different molecular pathways, including epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. However, it is unclear whether exposure to these chemicals modifies serum levels of miRNAs associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. In the present study, we evaluated the serum levels of miRNAs associated with GDM (miR-9-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-29a-3p and miR-330-3p) and urinary levels of phthalate metabolites (mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and mono(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (MEHP)) and bisphenol A in GDM patients and women without GDM during the second trimester of gestation. We observed higher levels of miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p and miR-330-3p in sera of patients with GDM compared to non-diabetic subjects. Phthalates were detected in 97-100% of urine samples, while BPA only in 40%. Urinary MEHP and BPA concentrations were remarkably higher in both study groups compared to previously reported data. Unadjusted MEHP levels and adjusted BPA levels were higher in non-diabetics than in GDM patients (p = 0.03, p = 0.02). We found positive correlations between adjusted urinary MBzP levels and miR-16-5p expression levels (p < 0.05), adjusted MEHP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.05). We also found negative correlations between unadjusted and adjusted MBP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05), unadjusted MiBP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.01). Urinary MEHP levels reflect a striking exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in pregnant Mexican women. This study highlights the need for a regulatory strategy in the manufacture of several items containing endocrine disruptors in order to avoid involuntary ingestion of these compounds in the Mexican population.

Exposure of an urban population to pesticides assessed by wastewater-based epidemiology in a Caribbean island.

Wastewater-based epidemiology is an innovative approach to estimate the consumption of chemicals and their exposure patterns in a population, on the basis of measurements of biomarkers in wastewater. This method can provide objective real-time information on xenobiotics directly or indirectly ingested by a population. This approach was used to examine the exposure of the Martinique population to the three classes of pesticides: triazines, organophosphates and pyrethroids. Martinique island (French West Indies) is a closed market and has been closely monitored since the early 2000's when contamination with chlordecone, an organochlorine insecticide widely applied between 1972 and 1993 in banana plantations, became a critical political issue. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the patterns of human exposure and compare the results to those from other countries. Wastewater was collected as 24-h composite samples and analysed for selected urinary pesticide metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Organophosphate and pyrethroid metabolites were found in all the samples up to 330 ng/L, while triazines were found only at trace levels. Mass loads indicated higher exposure to pyrethroids than in some cities in Europe, but lower exposure to triazines and organophosphates. The estimated human intake for pyrethroids was close to the Acceptable Daily Intake, but importation of these pesticides to Martinique was low. This study illustrates the high human exposure with indoor pesticide use in comparison to its use in agriculture.

Valores de referencia de oxalato, calcio, citrato, ácido úrico, fósforo, magnesio, sulfato y sodio urinarios en alumnos de la carrera de bioquímica de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina / Reference values for urinary oxalate, calcium, citrate, uric acid, phosphate, magnesium, sulphate and sodium in biochemistry students at Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: La urolitiasis (UL) es una alteración frecuente, cuya incidencia ha aumentado en el último cuarto del siglo XX. Para su diagnóstico se realizan estudios metabólicos para lo cual es necesario contar con valores de referencia (VR) establecidos para la población en cuestión. OBJETIVO: El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar VR de calcio, oxalato, citrato, úrico, fósforo, magnesio, sulfato y sodio en orina de 24 horas de alumnos de la Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina. Con los VR hallados se determinó la frecuencia de alteraciones y se la comparó con datos bibliográficos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se utilizó la guía NCCLSC28-A3, 2008. La muestra de referencia fue de 69 alumnos. Se utilizaron métodos enzimáticos-colorimétricos, espectrofotómetro Metrolab 1600 plus, electrodos ion selectivo DIESTRO. RESULTADOS: Los VR hallados (IC 95%) fueron para el oxalato: 1,96-45,08; calcio: 20,65-250,74; citrato: 112,78-666,01; ácido úrico 58,73-782,17; fósforo 238,37-1051,44; magnesio 28,7-146,67 todos en mg/24h; sulfato 3,15-25,18 mmol/24h y sodio 42,81-285,3 mEq/24h. Se encontró un 3% hiperoxaluria, 12% hipercalciuria, 3% hipocitraturia y 6% hiperuricosuria, 6% hiperfosfaturia, 6% hipomagnesuria, 7% hipernatriuria, 0% hipersulfaturia. Los VR comparados mostraron coincidencias para algunos analitos y para otros amplias diferencias. CONCLUSIONES: El diagnóstico de la alteración metabólica para el estudio de UL varía según el valor de referencia utilizado. Adoptar valores establecidos para otras poblaciones, incluidos los de los fabricantes de los kits comerciales, conducen a un diagnóstico que puede no ser acorde a la situación clínica del paciente

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis (UL) is a common disease whose incidence increased in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Metabolic evaluation is necessary for diagnosis, which requires the establishment of reference values (RV) for the population in question. OBJECTIVE: To determine the RV for calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, phosphate, magnesium, sulphate and sodium in 24-hour urine belonging to students from the School of Biochemistry and Biological Sciences at Universidad Nacional del Litoral, province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Once RV were established, a frequency of alterations was determined and then compared with literature data. METHODS: The NCCLSC28-A3 guideline (2008) was used. The study group included 69 students. The enzymatic colorimetric method, a Metrolab 1600 plus spectrophotometer and a DIESTRO ion-selective electrode were also employed. Results: The RV found (95 % CI) were the following: oxalate, 1.96-45.08; calcium, 20.65-250.74; citrate, 112.78-666.01; uric acid, 58.73-782.17; phosphate, 238.37-1051.44; magnesium, 28.7-146.67, all these values expressed as mg/24h; sulphate, 3.15-25.18 mmol/24h, and sodium, 42.81-285.3 mEq/24h. These findings emerged as well: hyperoxaluria, 3%; hypercalciuria 12%; hypocitraturia, 3%; hyperuricosuria, 6%; hyperphosphaturia, 6%; hypomagnesuria, 6%; hypernatriuria, 7%, and hypersulphaturia, 0%. When RV were compared, some analyte levels were similar and others showed a considerable difference. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of UL through the study of metabolic changes is different according to the reference value used. Applying reference values established for other populations, including those of commercial kits manufacturers, may lead to a diagnosis which does not match the clinical condition of the patient