{"title":"Estimated mercury vapor exposure from amalgams among American pregnant women.","authors":"David A Geier, Mark R Geier","doi":"10.1177/09603271241231945","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09603271241231945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the impact of mercury (Hg) vapor exposure from amalgams among all American pregnant women. Amalgam-Hg vapor exposure among 1,665,890 weighted-pregnant women (<i>n</i> = 37) was examined in the 2015-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Correlation coefficients between amalgam surfaces and daily micrograms (µg) of urinary Hg excretion and daily µg of Hg vapor exposure from amalgams per kilogram (Kg) bodyweight were calculated. Daily Hg vapor exposure from amalgams was compared to Hg vapor safety limits. About 600,000 pregnant women (∼36%) had at least one amalgam surface. Median daily urinary Hg excretion was ∼2.5-fold higher among pregnant women with amalgams as compared to pregnant women without amalgams. A significant correlation was observed between the number of amalgam surfaces and daily urinary Hg excretion. Among pregnant women with amalgams, it was estimated that the median daily Hg vapor dose from amalgams was 7.66 µg of Hg and 0.073 µg of Hg/Kg bodyweight. Among all pregnant women, ∼28% received daily Hg vapor doses from amalgams above the least restrictive United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety limit and ∼36% received above the most restrictive California (CA) EPA safety limit. Given the potential for fetal toxicological effects from prenatal Hg vapor exposure, special emphasis needs to be placed on reducing/eliminating amalgams in pregnancy/women of reproductive age and future studies should evaluate adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139693724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hui Hu, Xiaofang Ke, Fangfang Zheng, Minjie You, Tao Zhou, Yanwen Xu, Jiaiying Wu, Shuhua Tong, Lufeng Hu
{"title":"Diagnostic and prognostic value of diquat plasma concentration and complete blood count in patients with acute diquat poisoning based on random forest algorithms.","authors":"Hui Hu, Xiaofang Ke, Fangfang Zheng, Minjie You, Tao Zhou, Yanwen Xu, Jiaiying Wu, Shuhua Tong, Lufeng Hu","doi":"10.1177/09603271241276981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271241276981","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Currently, the incidence of diquat (DQ) poisoning is increasing, and quickly predicting the prognosis of poisoned patients is crucial for clinical treatment. In this study, a total of 84 DQ poisoning patients were included, with 38 surviving and 46 deceased. The plasma DQ concentration of DQ poisoned patients, determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were collected and analyzed with their complete blood count (CBC) indicators. Based on DQ concentration and CBC dataset, the random forest of diagnostic and prognostic models were established. The results showed that the initial DQ plasma concentration was highly correlated with patient prognosis. There was data redundancy in the CBC dataset, continuous measurement of CBC tests could improve the model's predictive accuracy. After feature selection, the predictive accuracy of the CBC dataset significantly increased to 0.81 ± 0.17, with the most important features being white blood cells and neutrophils. The constructed CBC random forest prediction model achieved a high predictive accuracy of 0.95 ± 0.06 when diagnosing DQ poisoning. In conclusion, both DQ concentration and CBC dataset can be used to predict the prognosis of DQ treatment. In the absence of DQ concentration, the random forest model using CBC data can effectively diagnose DQ poisoning and patient's prognosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142127747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"LncRNA-NEAT1 facilitates autophagy to boost pemetrexed resistance in lung adenocarcinoma via the mir-379-3p/HIF1A pathway.","authors":"Wei Hu, Wenjun Cao, Jiheng Liu","doi":"10.1177/09603271241292169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271241292169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>As a primary chemotherapeutic agent for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), pemetrexed (PEM) faces the challenge of resistance development in cancer cells due to its chronic use, which compromises its therapeutic benefits. LncRNA-NEAT1, implicated in the promotion of cancer, is a key player in LUAD. The objective of this study is to explore the contribution of lncRNA-NEAT1 to PEM resistance in LUAD and to dissect the molecular mechanisms involved.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The expression levels of lncRNA-NEAT1 in LUAD tissues and cells were deciphered using the TCGA database and qRT-PCR. To delve into the functional implications of lncRNA-NEAT1, we engineered plasmids to modulate its expression levels in PEM-resistant A549 cells. PEM resistance in the modified cells was then quantitatively assessed via a panel of assays including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and colony formation, and flow cytometry. To predict the interaction sites between lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-379-3p, along with the miR-379-3p and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1A), we referred to the StarBase and TargetScan databases. The interplay between these RNA molecules was further characterized by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays, while the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3I, LC3II, and Beclin1 was profiled using western blot (WB).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Abundant lncRNA-NEAT1 expression was observed in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Its depletion resulted in impeded growth of A549/PEM cells, enhanced apoptotic rates, and a lowered threshold for PEM to exert a half-maximal inhibitory effect. The interplay between lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-379-3p, as evidenced by dual-luciferase reporter assays, RIP, and qRT-PCR, led to the upregulation of HIF1A. WB and CCK-8 outcomes illustrated that the autophagy and PEM resistance were compromised when HIF1A expression was curtailed by miR-379-3p mimics in A549/PEM cells. The restoration of these effects was observed upon lncRNA-NEAT1-mediated downregulation of miR-379-3p.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study illuminates the role of lncRNA-NEAT1 in LUAD, where it mediates resistance to PEM through the activation of autophagy via the miR-379-3p/HIF1A axis. This work paves the way for new therapeutic strategies for managing PEM resistance in LUAD patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142484138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lee Chae, Sungwon Lee, Swetha Mahadevan, Mark R Bauter, Colleen Wojenski, Kristin Robertson, Brian Premkumar, Brinda Mahadevan
{"title":"Assessment of safety through mutagenicity and subchronic toxicity studies with black pepper extract preparation.","authors":"Lee Chae, Sungwon Lee, Swetha Mahadevan, Mark R Bauter, Colleen Wojenski, Kristin Robertson, Brian Premkumar, Brinda Mahadevan","doi":"10.1177/09603271241298531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271241298531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Black pepper (<i>Piper nigrum</i>) is a rich source of natural and bioactive components such as N-trans-feruloyltyramine (NFT). In this paper, we discuss the results of the subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity studies conducted to understand the potential for adverse effects if any, of Black Pepper Extract Preparation (BPE).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To evaluate mutagenicity, an Ames test was conducted with BPE in the presence and absence of S9 metabolic activation. Long-term safety was inferred through a 90-day subchronic toxicology study using adult rats. Dose levels were selected with expected human intake levels of NFT (120 mg/kg/day), with an acceptable safety factor, for preclinical safety and tolerability. Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets targeting dietary intakes (doses) of 0, 125, 350, or 700 mg/kg/day of BPE for 90 days, an NFT dose level equivalent to 68, 190, and 380 mg/kg/day.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In vitro Ames test up to 5000 µg/plate with and without S9 metabolic activation showed no BPE-related increases in revertant colony numbers and was non-mutagenic. There were no BPE-related changes in viability, clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, and organ weights. BPE dietary administration did not induce any treatment-related changes in hematology, clinical chemistry, other macroscopic or microscopic endpoints.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>The highest dose tested with BPE (700 mg/kg/day) was the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) that revealed no adverse effects. Based on toxicological endpoints evaluated, this NOAEL for BPE corresponded to a human equivalent NFT dose level of 380 mg/kg/day, dependent upon a (∼50%) concentration of NFT in BPE.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142607697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asmaa A Hassan, Sherein S Abdelgayed, Somaya Z Mansour
{"title":"Liver and ovarian toxicities boosted by bisphenol and gamma radiation in female albino rats.","authors":"Asmaa A Hassan, Sherein S Abdelgayed, Somaya Z Mansour","doi":"10.1177/09603271231219264","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09603271231219264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bisphenol A (BPA), a carbon-based synthetic polymer compound, was newly classified as an environmental toxicant and an endocrine-disrupting chemical leading to abnormalities in cell proliferation, apoptosis, or migration that contributes to cancer development and progression. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the elevation of γ- radiation dose and BPA on the liver and ovaries of female rats. In this study, eighty female albino rats (130-150 g) were used in this work. Rats in this experiment received BPA in ethanol (50 mg/kg b. wt.) for 30 days, day after day, and in the irradiated groups, animals were administered BPA and then exposed to γ- radiation in doses (2, 4, and 6 Gy) one shot dose. Several members of the cytochrome family were examined. Exposure to γ-radiation and BPA showed an increase in cytochrome P450 and b5 fold change. Further, BPA and γ-radiation activate α and β estrogen receptors and also downregulate aromatase (CYT19) fold change. The current results also revealed that BPA and/or γ-radiation regulate the protein expression of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) appeared to be targeted by BPA and γ-radiation and its relative expression was elevated significantly by raising the γ-radiation dose. In conclusion, exposure to BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, leads to marked toxicity. Additionally, toxicity is heightened by increasing the γ-radiation dose, either alone or in combination with BPA.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139543861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ginsenoside Rg5 induces NSCLC cell apoptosis and autophagy through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.","authors":"Caidie Zhang, Yan Jin","doi":"10.1177/09603271241229140","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09603271241229140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Ginsenoside Rg5 (Rg5) is a minor ginsenoside of ginseng and has a strong anti-tumor potential. This study focused on deciphering the function of Rg5 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and investigating its related mechanism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>After treating human NSCLC cell lines (H1650 and A549) and bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) with increasing concentration of Rg5, cell viability was examined using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. NSCLC cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by colony formation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The levels of proteins associated with cell cycle progression, cell apoptosis, and autophagy as well as the key markers in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway were measured using western blot. A xenograft nude mouse model was established to explore the function of Rg5 <i>in vivo</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NSCLC cell viability was dose- and time-dependently suppressed after Rg5 treatment. Rg5 restrained NSCLC cell proliferation by inducing G2/M phase arrest via regulation of cell cycle-related genes including p21, cyclin B1, and Cdc2. Additionally, Rg5 promoted caspase-dependent apoptosis in NSCLC cells by regulating the intrinsic mitochondrial signaling pathway. Rg5 induced autophagy via the regulation of autophagy-related proteins. The <i>in vivo</i> experiments revealed the inhibitory impact of Rg5 on xenograft growth. Rg5 also inactivated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in NSCLC cells and mouse tumors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Rg5 induced autophagy and caspase-dependent apoptosis in NSCLC cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, suggesting that Rg5 might become a promising and novel anti-tumor agent for the clinical treatment of NSCLC patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139577295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mark R Bauter, Laura M Brutscher, Laurie C Dolan, Jessica L Spears
{"title":"Subchronic oral toxicity assessment of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> strain BV379 in sprague-dawley rats.","authors":"Mark R Bauter, Laura M Brutscher, Laurie C Dolan, Jessica L Spears","doi":"10.1177/09603271241278977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271241278977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The spore-forming bacterial species <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> is commonly utilized in feed for livestock and aquaculture. In recent years, there has been increased interest in introducing <i>B</i>. <i>velezensis</i> into human supplements and food. Before it can be safely administered in humans, the safety of each <i>B</i>. <i>velezensis</i> strain needs to be established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo safety of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> strain BV379 by high-dose oral administration to rats in a 28-day subchronic toxicity study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, 80 animals were assigned to four groups: vehicle control, 1 × 10<sup>10</sup>, 4 × 10<sup>10</sup>, or 10 × 10<sup>10</sup> CFU/kg bw/day by gavage. The following toxicological assessments were performed: ophthalmological examinations; observations for viability, signs of gross toxicity, and behavioral changes; in-life parameters, including body weight and food consumption; urinalysis, hematology, clinical chemistry, and coagulation assessments; macroscopic and microscopic tissue assessments; and bacterial enumeration in selected tissues.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under the conditions of this study, no adverse clinical endpoints were attributed to the administration of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> strain BV379, which was well-tolerated up to the highest dose of 10 × 10<sup>10</sup> CFU/kg bw/day.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results support the in vivo pre-clinical safety of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> strain BV379 for use in food and supplements.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142335177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Problems with the effectiveness of L-carnitine and paraffin oil in acute aluminum phosphide poisoning.","authors":"Maryam Zaare Nahandi, Ali Banagozar Mohammadi","doi":"10.1177/09603271231210974","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09603271231210974","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50164248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Salvatore Chirumbolo, Umberto Tirelli, Marianno Franzini, Sergio Pandolfi, Giovanni Ricevuti, Francesco Vaiano, Luigi Valdenassi
{"title":"Ozone in the adjunct medical treatment. The round personality of a molecule with hormetic properties.","authors":"Salvatore Chirumbolo, Umberto Tirelli, Marianno Franzini, Sergio Pandolfi, Giovanni Ricevuti, Francesco Vaiano, Luigi Valdenassi","doi":"10.1177/09603271231218926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271231218926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ozone, an allotrope of oxygen, is enjoying an increasing interest in the setting and management of the medical adjunct treatment, which is called, maybe too simplistically, \"ozone therapy\". Ozone is not a medicine, so the word therapy does not properly fit this gaseous molecule. Like many natural compounds, for example plant flavonoids, even ozone interacts with aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) and, at low doses, it works according to the paradoxical mechanism of hormesis, involving mitochondria (mitohormesis). Ozone, in the hormetic range, exerts cell protective functions via the Nrf2-mediated activation of the anti-oxidant system, then leading to anti-inflammatory effects, also via the triggering of low doses of 4-HNE. Moreover, its interaction with plasma and lipids forms reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipoperoxides (LPOs), generally called ozonides, which are enabled to rule the major molecular actions of ozone in the cell. Ozone behaves as a bioregulator, by activating a wide population of reactive intermediates, which usually target mitochondria and their turnover/biogenesis, often leading to a pleiotropic spectrum of actions and behaving as a tuner of the fundamental mechanisms of survival in the cell. In this sense, ozone can be considered a novelty in the medical sciences and in the clinical approach to pharmacology and medical therapy, due to its ability to target complex regulatory systems and not simple receptors.</p>","PeriodicalId":94029,"journal":{"name":"Human & experimental toxicology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138814278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}