Biological Trace Element Research最新文献

This is an exploratory case-control study assessed levels of metals and essential trace elements in hair samples from children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and neurotypical controls, exploring potential differences according to sex. A total of 154 children (61 children with ASD and 93 controls) aged 4-18 years were enrolled at the same clinical site in Eastern Sicily. Demographic, perinatal, dietary, and exposure information was collected through structured parental questionnaires. Hair samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Children with ASD showed distinct elemental patterns. Females with ASD had higher median nickel (0.25 vs.0.20 µg/g), lead (1.11 vs.0.55 µg/g), chromium (0.87 vs.0.49 µg/g), and aluminum (10.27 vs. 6.97 µg/g) compared with female controls; similar but smaller differences appeared in males. Mercury levels were consistently lower in children with ASD for both sexes (females: 0.25 vs.0.60 µg/g; males: 0.30 vs.0.58 µg/g). Essential trace elements were markedly elevated in children with ASD: zinc reached 132 µg/g in ASD females vs. 83 µg/g in controls, and 129 vs. 65 µg/g in males; selenium and copper were also higher across sexes. Maternal and child characteristics differed between groups. Mothers of children with ASD reported more infections (30.9% vs. 9.6%) and therapies during pregnancy (43.9% vs.22.6%), while children with ASD showed more gastric disorders (40.4%vs.9.4%), specific diets (21.1% vs.3.5%), and vitamin use (26.3% vs.3.5%). Findings suggest sex-related differences in hair metals and trace elements profiles among children with ASD. The low mercury levels observed in children with ASD showld be interpreted with caution, given that factors such as dietary habits, supplement intake, or differences in metal metabolism were not directly assessed in this study.

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element, but excessive exposure may exert toxic effects in ruminants. The pancreas plays a central role in post-ruminal digestion, yet the effects of high Mo exposure on pancreatic digestive function and its underlying mechanisms in goats remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of chronic Mo exposure on pancreatic function in goats through physiological assessment and proteomic analysis. Twenty Yudong Black goats (six months old, 22.34 ± 1.87 kg) were randomly assigned to a control group or a Mo group (n = 10 each). Goats in the Mo group were fed a basal diet supplemented with 50 mg·kg⁻¹ Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O for 60 days. Body weight, pancreatic organ index, and the activities of pancreatic amylase, lipase, and trypsin were measured. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was performed on pancreatic tissue. High Mo exposure significantly reduced body weight gain, increased the pancreatic organ index, and decreased pancreatic exocrine enzyme activities. Proteomic analysis identified 765 differentially expressed proteins, including 568 upregulated and 197 downregulated proteins. These proteins were mainly enriched in pathways related to immune and inflammatory responses, cytoskeletal organization, phagocytosis, amino acid metabolism, and lysosome-associated processes. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified VCL, RAC2, ITGB2, and TLN1 as key hub proteins. Parallel reaction monitoring validation confirmed trends consistent with the TMT results. Overall, chronic high Mo exposure impairs pancreatic exocrine digestive function and induces broad proteomic alterations, providing new insight into the molecular mechanisms of Mo-induced pancreatic injury in goats.

This study sought to develop and validate an exosome-derived competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network in chondrocytes impacted by Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and to elucidate its functional implications in selenium deficiency-induced cartilage damage. Exosomes were isolated from the chondrocytes of KBD patients (n = 3) and matched healthy controls (n = 3). Exosomal RNA microarrays and high-throughput miRNA sequencing were employed to identify differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) using predefined thresholds of |fold change| ≧ 1, P < 0.05, or TargetScan_score ≧ 50 and miranda_Energy < - 10. Through an integration of bioinformatics analysis and experimental approaches, we constructed a KBD-specific exosome-derived ceRNA network and validated the expression patterns of core molecules in C28/I2 chondrocyte and SD rat models. Transcriptomic profiling revealed numerous dysregulated exosomal lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in KBD chondrocytes, which were predominantly enriched in pathways associated with cartilage damage, oxidative stress, and extracellular matrix metabolism. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis identified six distinct lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes within the ceRNA network, encompassing five lncRNAs, miR-423-5p, miR-654-5p, and their target genes CDC42 and SETD8. Validation through RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed aberrant expression patterns in KBD induced by selenium deficiency: lncRNAs were markedly upregulated, miRNAs were significantly downregulated, and both CDC42 and SETD8 were substantially upregulated. These findings imply that exosome-derived ceRNA interactions may play a role in selenium deficiency-associated cartilage damage by modulating CDC42 and SETD8. In conclusion, this exploratory study systematically constructs and preliminarily validates an exosome-derived ceRNA network in KBD chondrocytes. The results indicate that this network may mediate cartilage damage induced by selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin via the lncRNA-miR-423-5p/miR-654-5p-CDC42/SETD8 axes. These molecules hold potential as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for KBD, although further validation in larger cohorts is necessary.

Given their general use and continued exposure to humans, toxic metals in cosmetics and personal care products are an emerging public health concern. The review discusses the occurrence, concentration, analytical detection and health risks of toxic metals commonly found in cosmetics, including Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, and Ni. The amount of these metals differed greatly depending on the product and region. For instance, Pb concentrations in some kohl products were above 440,000 µg/g, Cr in some lipsticks reached 2554 µg/g, and mercury in some skin-lightening creams averaged 1008 µg/g. Hair dyes, eye cosmetics, nail products, lipsticks, and skin-whitening creams were identified as major sources of exposure. Different analytical methods, including FAAS, GFAAS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and XRF spectroscopy, are commonly used to measure these metals. The review further discusses dermal absorption pathways, bioaccumulation, and carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with long-term cosmetic use, as well as the current regulatory guidelines. Although some products met safety standards, many exceeded international limits, showing the need for stricter regulations, regular testing, standard methods, and better public awareness.

Coastal ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and livelihoods. However, increasing anthropogenic pollution has deteriorated quality and health of these important ecosystems. This study investigates the concentrations, spatial distributions, ecological, and consumer health risks of Cadmium (Cd) and Mercury (Hg) in surface sediments and oyster Saccostrea cucullata, collected from coastal locations along the Goa coast, India. Average concentration of Cd and Hg in sediment samples was measured as 0.16 ± 0.04 mg kg^- 1 and 0.005 ± 0.004 mg kg^- 1 (dry wt.), respectively. In oyster, the mean concentration of Cd and Hg was 3.37 ± 0.66 mg kg^- 1 and 0.071 ± 0.005 mg kg^- 1 (dry wt.), respectively. Sediment analysis revealed that Cd concentrations were generally low and below established sediment quality guideline thresholds; however, high bioaccumulation was observed in Saccostrea cucullata, with concentrations exceeding the permissible limit at most sampling sites. In contrast, Hg concentrations remained below sediment quality guideline values and seafood safety thresholds across all locations. Geochemical indices (CF, Igeo, and EF) identified localized Cd enrichment, particularly at Baga, while Hg showed negligible contamination. Consumer health risk assessment indicated that Cd was the major contributor to elevated THQ and HI values, highlighting Cd-driven consumer health concerns associated with oyster consumption. Overall, the findings suggest that cadmium represents the primary environmental and public health concern along the Goa coast, whereas mercury currently poses comparatively low ecological and human health risks.

This study was intended to assess the concentration of 15 elemental impurities and associated health risks in 38 samples of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) collected from different Jordanian pharmaceutical manufacturers using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of the targeted elemental impurities were within or below the permissible limits except for ²⁰⁸Pb as recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP - NF 2022) and the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use ICH Q3D (R2). The hazard index (HI) of elemental impurities was less than 1 as established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in all tested API samples except Amoxicillin. Validation parameters performed in this study showed a good accuracy and validity of the ICP-MS analysis method, with a good linearity (R² ˃ 0.996) for all elemental impurities, instrumental LODs varying between 0.001 × 10^- 3 µg. mL^- 1 for ²³²Th and 6.209 × 10^- 3 µg. mL^- 1 for ²⁰⁸Pb, and recovery ˃ 95%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA - one way) was used to compare the means of ten categories of medication groups for 15 targeted elemental impurities. The results show that all elemental impurities have p-values > 0.05 except for ⁶⁰Ni (0.018), and ²⁰⁹Bi (0.021). This study investigated several elements that have been rarely reported in previous studies and further integrated elemental profiling with health risk assessment, hence providing new insights and adding novel data to the current body of scientific knowledge.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the clonal proliferation of mature B lymphocytes in the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. The development of chemotherapy resistance has increased the need for novel and less toxic therapeutic approaches. Owing to its unique biological properties, the anticancer potential of boric acid (BA) has attracted increasing attention. This study investigated the effects of BA on cell viability, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in HG-3 and MEC-1 CLL cell lines and evaluated its synergistic potential in combination with Venetoclax. Cell viability was assessed after 24 and 48 h of treatment, and the IC₅₀ values of BA were determined as 75 µg/mL for HG-3 cells and 80 µg/mL for MEC-1 cells. Apoptosis was evaluated by measuring caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities, which were significantly increased in the combination groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Oxidative stress was assessed using total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI). In addition, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, reduced density gradient (RDG), and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analyses were performed to investigate the molecular interactions of BA. Taken together, these findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the biological activity of the BA-Venetoclax combination and justify further mechanistic and in vivo studies to evaluate its potential relevance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Kidney injury is a clinical condition characterized by a rapid decline in renal function, associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanism of oridonin against cadmium-induced kidney injury in mice. A mouse model of cadmium-induced kidney injury was established by cadmium administration. Inflammatory cytokines were tested by ELISA. Protein expression was measured by western blot analysis. Oridonin treatment reduced cadmium-induced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), kidney myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and TNF-α and IL-1β production. Oridonin also alleviated pathological changes in the kidney caused by cadmium. Furthermore, cadmium-induced hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation were inhibited by oridonin. Oridonin also suppressed cadmium-induced ferroptosis. In addition, oridonin upregulated SIRT1 expression and the protective effects of oridonin on cadmium-induced inflammation and ferroptosis were abolished by SIRT1 inhibitor. In conclusion, oridonin attenuates cadmium-induced kidney injury by activating SIRT1, which in turn suppresses inflammation and ferroptosis.

Iodine is essential for infant growth and neurodevelopment. To assess iodine nutritional status in populations or individuals a 24-hour urinary iodine concentration (24 h-UIC) is a reliable biomarker but relatively time-consuming and inconvenient method, therefore, more simple alternatives are required. This study examined the correlation between salivary iodine concentration (SIC) and commonly used iodine-related indicators, that is, 24 h-UIC and breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC), and explored the potential of SIC as a biomarker in lactating women. This study recruited 29 healthy lactating women in Luoyang City, Henan Province, China. Over five consecutive days, 24-hour urine samples were collected daily, while saliva and breast milk samples were collected once a day. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine iodine concentrations in urine, saliva and breast milk. Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation analysis to assess associations between SIC and urinary iodine-related measurements. The median 24 h-UIC was 114.8 µg/L, indicating adequate iodine nutrition in this study population (median UIC < 100 µg/L). SIC showed significant positive correlations with 24 h-UIC and 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (24 h-UIE) (r = 0.689 and 0.460, respectively; P < 0.001), whereas no significant correlation was observed between SIC and BMIC (r = 0.047, P > 0.05). When participants were grouped according to 24 h-UIC (< 100 µg/L vs. ≥100 µg/L), higher SIC levels were observed in the group with higher 24 h-UIC (SIC: 163.4 vs. 109.2 µg/L). The intraindividual variability of SIC was lower than inter-individual variability (18.5 vs. 35.2%), suggesting relatively stable within-subject measurements over repeated sampling. The positive correlation between SIC and 24 h-UIC or 24 h-UIE suggests that SIC may serve as a convenient non-invasive indicator associated with urinary iodine-related measurements in lactating women. However, the observed relationships are exploratory, and further validation in larger and more diverse populations is needed.

Acidification coupled with TMs pollution in tea soil pose a significant threat to the ecosystem by adversely affecting soil health. This research links 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis with advanced statistical tools to evaluate synergistic effect of acidity and TMs pollution on bacteriome of two tea-cultivating zones of India. Results indicated bioavailable TMs level was substantially greater in zone 1 (WS_Cr: 2.98 mg/kg, Ex_Cr: 6.98 mg/kg, WS_Ni: 1.39 mg/kg, Ex_Ni: 4.54 mg/kg) than in zone 2. Elevated acidity levels in zone 1 fostered substantial accumulation of TMs in soil. In contrast, zone 2 exhibited improved microbial activity due to reduced TMs and acidity stress.16 S rRNA sequencing reflected higher prevalence of Cyanobacteria across zones (zone 1: 2.81%, zone 2: 8.715%). GIS and SOM maps illustrated impact of bioavailable TMs and acidity on soil microbial activity. Random Forest analysis highlighted significant influence of BA_Cr and Ex_Al on Acidobacteria. Strikingly, both zones exhibited diverse bacteriome. Increased TOC content may have compensated for adverse impacts of soil stressors, thereby facilitating the survival of diverse bacteriome in both zones. This research provides valuable insights into dual effect of soil acidity and TMs on tea soil bacteriome, aiding scientists and policymakers in promoting sustainable tea cultivation worldwide.