Impact of vanadium complexes treatment on the oxidative stress factors in wistar rats plasma.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE CLINICAL EFFICACY OF VANADIUM COMPLEXES ON TRIGLYCERIDES (TG), TOTAL CHOLESTEROL (CHOL), URIC ACID (UA), UREA (U), AND ANTIOXIDANT PARAMETERS: nonenzymatic (FRAP-ferric reducing ability of plasma, and reduced glutathione-GSH) and enzymatic (glutathione peroxidase-GPx, catalase-CAT, and GPx/CAT ratio) activity in the plasma of healthy male Wistar rats. Three vanadium complexes: [VO(bpy)(2)]SO(4)·2H(2)O, [VO(4,4'Me(2)bpy)(2)]SO(4)·2H(2)O, and Na[VO(O(2))(2)(bpy)]·8H(2)O are administered by gavage during 5 weeks in two different diets such as control (C) and high fatty (F) diets. Changes of biochemical and antioxidants parameters are measured in plasma. All three vanadium complexes statistically decrease the body mass growth in comparison to the control and fatty diet. In plasma GSH was statistically increased in all vanadium complexes-treated rats from control and fatty group in comparison to only control group. Calculated GPX/CAT ratio was the highest in the control group in comparison to others.

Cornelian cherry (cornus MAS L.) juices as a source of minerals in human diet.

The aim of this study was to determine the mineral content of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), as this fruit and its preservatives may be considered as important nutritional supplements. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were present in Cornelian cherry juice as measured by atomic absorption. Compared to other juices obtained from plum, pear, and apple, Cornelian cherry juice contained high levels of Ca, reaching 10-fold higher (323 mg/L) levels than other juices (14-77 mg/L). With respect to the remaining elements, K, Na, Fe, Zn, and Mn, the levels noted for Cornus mas juice were also higher than in other juices studied. The reverse was true for Cu, for which levels were lower. Data indicate that Cornelian cherry juices are rich in various essential elements and might be considered as an important dietary mineral supplementation for individuals deficient in nutritional elements.

Copper, Manganese, Zinc, and Cadmium in Tea Leaves of Different Types and Origin.

Concentrations of selected metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd) in tea leaves were investigated. Samples included black, green, and other (red, white, yellow, and oolong) teas. They were purchased on a local market but they covered different countries of origin. Beverages like yerba mate, rooibos, and fruit teas were also included in the discussion. Metal determinations were performed using atomic absorption spectrometry. In black teas, Mn/Cd ratio was found to be significantly higher (48,091 ± 35,436) vs. green (21,319 ± 16,396) or other teas (15,692 ± 8393), while Cd concentration was lower (31.4 ± 18.3 µg/kg) vs. other teas 67.0 (67.0 ± 24.4). Moreover, Zn/Cu and Cu/Cd ratios were, respectively, lower (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 2.2 ± 0.5) and higher (1086 ± 978 vs. 261 ± 128) when comparing black teas with other teas. Intake of each metal from drinking tea was estimated based on the extraction levels reported by other authors. Contributions to recommended daily intake for Cu, Mn, and Zn were estimated based on the recommendations of international authorities. Except for manganese, tea is not a major dietary source of the studied elements. From the total number of 27 samples, three have shown exceeded cadmium level, according to local regulations.

Interactive computerized microscopy as a tool for quantifying vascular remodelling effects of diabetes and V1a receptor antagonist SR 49059 on rat mesenteric arterial bed.

A methodology using interactive computerized microscopy (ICM) was developed to quantify in the mesenteric arterial bed the morphometric changes associated with diabetes and the influence of treatment with SR 49059, an antagonist of vasopressin V1a receptors. Four groups of rats were studied: untreated normal (N) or streptozotocin- (60 mg/kg i.v.) induced diabetic (D), and treated (0.4 mg/g SR 49059 included in food) normal (NT) or diabetic (DT) animals. Treatment was initiated 4 days after diabetes induction and continued for 3 weeks. Nested (hierarchical) analysis of variance of ICM data was performed on raw diameter or after logarithmic normalization of area and nuclei values. Diabetes was associated with an increase in arterial diameters, and in total vessel, wall, media, adventitia, and lumen areas. The same parameters, with the exception of the lumen, were also increased in DT as compared to D. The number of nuclei in the media or adventitia was increased in D as compared to N, and in DT as compared to D. In summary, ICM is allowed to further characterize the vascular mesenteric changes and describe for the first time the enlargement of adventitia associated with diabetes. Our study also suggested that the blockade of Via receptors is unable to prevent diabetes-related vascular changes, although the slight increase in food intake associated with SR 49059 treatment may have had an indirect influence on angiopathy development.

Vanadium pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability upon single-dose administration of vanadyl sulfate to rats.

Vanadium pharmacokinetic parameters and oral bioavailability were determined after administration of vanadyl sulfate, an antidiabetic agent, to male Wistar rats. An optimal sampling design was used over a 21-day period; vanadium was measured in blood by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). After i.v. bolus injection (3.025 mg V/kg body weight), a three-compartment model was fitted to the data. Mean (+/- SD) half-lives were 0.90 +/- 0.56 hours, 24.8 +/- 14.5 h and 201 +/- 74 h, respectively, for the three phases observed. Vanadium clearance averaged 37.6 +/- 15.8 mL/h. Initial volume of distribution was 2.43 +/- 1.22 L/kg whereas total volume of distribution was 25.4 +/- 3.9 L/kg; these values largely exceeded body weight (i.e. 300 g), in agreement with a great uptake and retention of vanadium in tissues. After oral gavage administration (15.12 and 7.56 mg V/kg body weight), vanadium disposition was best described by a three-compartment model, with absorption appearing to occur by a zero-order rate. This process lasted 10.3 +/- 1.3 h and 10.9 +/- 1.1 h for the two dosage levels, respectively. Half-lives corresponding to the terminal log-linear part of the curve were 173.5 +/- 1.6 h and 172 +/- 6 h (Bayesian estimates). No dose-dependency was observed for any of the parameters determined. Absolute bioavailabilities, with reference to the i.v. administration, were 12.5% and 16.8% when determined from AUCmod. Bioavailability appeared to be higher than generally stated in the literature.

Accumulation of cesium and radiocesium in forest litter in selected regions of Poland and its influence on litter-to-mushroom transfer factor.

The aim of this work was to check whether the stable cesium content in forest litter affects the value of radiocesium from litter-to-mushroom transfer factor Tf or not. Total cesium in litter, measured by AAS, varied from 0.1-2.7 micrograms/g. These data, combined with earlier results for mushrooms, showed no simple correlation for Tf. More complex relationships provided very high correlation coefficients, but their validity needs further investigation.

Evaluation of zinc content in children's hair.

The zinc content in the hair of 654 children living in various rural and industrial areas in southern Poland was assayed by means of the atomic absorption spectrometry, following the dry digestion procedure. The hair of girls exhibited statistically significant higher level of Zn than the boys' hair, although in the site of extremal Zn contamination, the inverse relation was found.

Lead and cadmium in the hair and blood of children from a highly industrial area in Poland.

The study covered the children living in Miasteczko Slaskie, near the largest Zn plant in Poland. This is one of the areas highly contaminated with heavy metals. The subjects were 158 children aged from 8 to 15 (98 boys and 60 girls). The average Pb and Cd levels in the hair of the entire children population was 8.21 +/- 5.59 microg/g, and 0.91 +/- 0.61 microg/g, and the average Pb and Cd levels in their blood were 14.32 +/- 3.98 and 0.52 +/- 0.24 microg/dL(-1), respectively. The children population under investigation was divided according to their sex. The hair of the girls contained, on the average, 5.06 +/- 2.81 microg/g of Pb and 0.74 +/- 0.48 microg/g of Cd and the hair of the boys 10.14 +/- 6.0 microg/g of Pb and 1.01 +/- 0.65 microg/g of Cd. The blood of the girls contained, on the average, 13.23 +/- 4.23 microg/dL of Pb and 0.48 +/- 0.21 microg/dL of Cd, and the blood of the boys 14.99 +/- 3.68 microg/dL of Pb and 0.55 +/- 0.24 microg/dL of Cd. Thus, both the hair and blood of the boys accumulated more Pb and Cd than those of the girls. A correlation between the concentrations of these metals was confirmed.

Prenatal lead exposure and the pregnancy outcome. A case-control study in southern Poland.

In an attempt to test null hypothesis (Ho): that prenatal lead exposure does not increase the risk of prematurity and the delivery of SGA infants, a case-control study was performed in four hospitals of Southern Poland (Kraków, Rabka, Limanowa, Zakopane). Lead content was determined in maternal and cord blood as well as in head and pubic hair by the GF AAS (Perkin Elmer). A significant interregional variation of lead content in maternal blood was observed. Lead concentration in maternal and cord blood was significantly higher in the group of mothers of SGA newborns when compared to the controls. This was not the case with respect to the mothers of preterm infants. Also, the comparison of lead concentration in head and pubic hair revealed no statistically significant case-control differences. For a combined population of cases and controls, a significant gradient of lead concentration between maternal and cord blood was demonstrated. The correlation between lead content in different body compartments was observed. Conclusions. Different blood lead levels observed in mothers from four hospitals suggest different exposure. Higher lead concentration in maternal blood was associated with an increased risk of the delivery of SGA infant.

[The content of selected trace elements and heavy metals in the hair of children from Chorzów]. / Zawartosc wybranych mikroelementów i metali ciezkich we wlosach dzieci z Chorzowa.

Hair zinc, copper, lead and cadmium concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in children aged 10-11 years. The studied children, 30 boys and 39 girls, lived in the most polluted district of the town of Chorzów. The mean Zn content in the hair of the children was 173.86 micrograms/g. Girls had significantly higher levels of Zn in their hair than boys (182.32 and 154.11 micrograms/g respectively, p = 0.02). The mean Cu concentration in the hair of the children was 12.57 micrograms/g. For girls, the mean Cu concentration was significantly higher than for boys (13.53 and 11.77 micrograms/g). The mean Pb content in the hair of children was 4.41 micrograms/g. Boys had almost twice the level of Pb in their hair than girls (6.15 and 3.57 micrograms/g respectively, p = 0.002). The mean Cd concentration in hair of children was 0.53 micrograms/g). For boys the mean Cd concentration was not significantly higher than for girls (0.91 and 0.44 micrograms/g).

Use of pattern recognition methods in the interpretation of heavy metal (lead and cadmium) in children's scalp hair.

A study has been performed to identify the exposure to toxic metals and possible adverse effects in children from various rural and industrial areas in southern Poland. The population studied consisted of school children of age 7-12. The concentrations of Pb and Cd were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean Pb and Cd content in the hair of the sampled individuals was found to be 4.85 +/- 5.91 micrograms g-1 and 0.430 +/- 0.569 micrograms g-1, respectively. The hair of boys (particularly those living in the areas of greater industrial contamination) exhibited statistically significant higher levels of Pb and Cd than the hair of girls from the same area. No relationship was revealed between metal content and either anthropometric indices (weight : height ratio or height : age ratio) or educational achievements.

Effect of oxovanadium(IV) complexes on nondiabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The effects of vanadium complexes with organic ligands, [VO(phen)2]SO4.3H2O, [VO(bpy)2]SO4.2H2O, and [VOCl2(Hmcp)2H2O], on blood glucose and plasma lipid levels were studied in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats and compared to that of [VO(mal)2] (the reference compound). The present results provide evidence that the compounds examined possess lower toxicity than [VO(mal)2]. One of the compounds examined, viz. [VO(bpy)2]SO4.2H2O, decreases, statistically significantly, the glucose level and a second one, viz. [VOCl2(Hmcp)2H2O], decreases, also significantly, the total cholesterol level.

Vanadium levels in French and Californian wines: influence on vanadium dietary intake.

An accurate and reproducible method for direct determination of vanadium (V) in wine using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is described. This method gave results insignificantly different from those obtained using dry mineralization of wine samples, with a detection limit of 42 pg. A total of 68 wine samples from different regions of France and California were analysed. Vanadium levels ranged from 7.0 to 90.0 micrograms/l in red and from 6.6 to 43.9 micrograms/l in white wines. The method was also adapted to the determination of vanadium levels in 12 grape samples from different varieties after acid mineralization. Vanadium content varied from 2 to 17 micrograms/kg for white and from 5 to 11 micrograms/kg for red varieties. Our data indicate that wine storage conditions may increase vanadium content. The contribution of wine consumption to daily vanadium dietary intake of the French population was estimated to be 11 micrograms/day per individual.