The Herbicide Glyphosate and Its Apparently Controversial Effect on Human Health: An Updated Clinical Perspective

Glyphosate is a transformation product of a widely used aminopolyphosphonate complexing agent

Diethylenetriamine penta(methylenephosphonate) (DTPMP) and related aminopolyphosphonates (APPs) are widely used as chelating agents in household and industrial applications. Recent studies have linked APP emissions to elevated levels of the herbicide glyphosate in European surface waters. However, the transformation processes and products of APPs in the environment are largely unknown. We show that glyphosate is formed from DTPMP by reaction with manganese at near neutral pH in pure water and in wastewater. Dissolved Mn2+ and O2 or suspended MnO2 lead to the formation of glyphosate, which remains stable after complete DTPMP conversion. Glyphosate yields vary with the reaction conditions and reach up to 0.42 mol%. The ubiquitous presence of manganese in natural waters and wastewater systems underscores the potential importance of Mn-driven DTPMP transformation as a previously overlooked source of glyphosate in aquatic systems. These findings challenge the current paradigm of herbicide application as the sole source of glyphosate contamination and necessitate a reevaluation of water resource protection strategies.

Multi-omics and gut microbiome: Unveiling the pathogenic mechanisms of early-life pesticide exposure

The extensive application of pesticides in agricultural production has raised significant concerns about its impact on human health. Different pesticides, including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, cause environmental pollution and health problems for non-target organisms. Infants and young children are so vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticide exposure that early-life exposure to pesticides deserves focused attention. Recent research lays emphasis on understanding the mechanism between negative health impacts and early-life exposure to various pesticides. Studies have explored the impacts of exposure to these pesticides on model organisms (zebrafish, rats, and mice), as well as the mechanism of negative health effects, based on advanced methodologies like gut microbiota and multi-omics. These methodologies help comprehend the pathogenic mechanisms associated with early-life pesticide exposure. In addition to presenting health problems stemming from early-life exposure to pesticides and their pathogenic mechanisms, this review proposes expectations for future research. These proposals include focusing on identifying biomarkers that indicate early-life pesticide exposure, investigating transgenerational effects, and seeking effective treatments for diseases arising from such exposure. This review emphasizes how to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of early-life pesticide exposure through gut microbiota and multi-omics, as well as the adverse health effects of such exposure.

High doses of GrassOut Max poses reproductive hazard by affecting male reproductive function and early embryogenesis in Swiss albino mice

Clethodim is a widely used and approved class II herbicide, with little information about its impact on the reproductive system. Herein, we investigated the male reproductive toxicity of clethodim using a mouse model. GrassOut Max (26% clethodim-equivalent) or 50 mg kg^-1 body weight analytical grade clethodim (≥90%) were given orally to male mice for 10 d in varying doses. All parameters were assessed at 35 d from the first day of treatment. Significant decrease in testicular weight, decreased germ cell population, elevated DNA damage in testicular cells and lower serum testosterone level was observed post clethodim-equivalent exposure. Epididymal spermatozoa were characterized with significant decrease in motility, elevated DNA damage, abnormal morphology, chromatin immaturity and, decreased acetylated-lysine of sperm proteins. In the testicular cells of clethodim-equivalent treated mice, the expression of Erβ and Gper was significantly higher. Proteomic analysis revealed lower metabolic activity, poor sperm-oocyte binding potential and defective mitochondrial electron transport in spermatozoa of clethodim-equivalent treated mice. Further, fertilizing ability of spermatozoa was compromised and resulted in defective preimplantation embryo development. Together, our data suggest that clethodim exposure risks male reproductive function and early embryogenesis in Swiss albino mice via endocrine disrupting function.

Free Radicals and Obesity-Related Chronic Inflammation Contrasted by Antioxidants: A New Perspective in Coronary Artery Disease

We are surrounded by factors called free radicals (FR), which attach to the molecules our body is made of, first among them the endothelium. Even though FR are to a certain extent a normal factor, nowadays we face an escalating increase in these biologically aggressive molecules. The escalating formation of FR is linked to the increased usage of man-made chemicals for personal care (toothpaste, shampoo, bubble bath, etc.), domestic laundry and dish-washer detergents, and also an ever wider usage of drugs (both prescription and over the counter), especially if they are to be used long-term (years). In addition, tobacco smoking, processed foods, pesticides, various chronic infectious microbes, nutritional deficiencies, lack of sun exposure, and, finally, with a markedly increasing impact, electromagnetic pollution (a terribly destructive factor), can increase the risk of cancer, as well as endothelial dysfunction, owing to the increased production of FR that they cause. All these factors create endothelial damage, but the organism may be able to repair such damage thanks to the intervention of the immune system supported by antioxidants. However, one other factor can perpetuate the state of inflammation, namely obesity and metabolic syndrome with associated hyperinsulinemia. In this review, the role of FR, with a special emphasis on their origin, and of antioxidants, is explored from the perspective of their role in causing atherosclerosis, in particular at the coronary level.

Glyphosate decreases bovine oocyte quality by inducing oxidative stress and apoptosis

Glyphosate is a universal herbicide with genital toxicity, but the effect of glyphosate on oocytes has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of glyphosate (0, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mM) on bovine oocyte in vitro maturation. We showed that 50 mM glyphosate adversely affects the development of bovine oocytes. Exposure of oocytes to 50 mM glyphosate caused an abnormal reduction in oxidative (redox) levels compared with that in the control group, with a significantly higher reactive oxide species level (P < 0.05) and significantly lower glutathione (GSH) expression (P < 0.05). Additionally, the mRNA levels of antioxidant genes (SOD1, SOD2, SIRT2, SIRT3) and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with 50 mM glyphosate-induced apoptosis, and the mRNA levels of the apoptotic genes Caspase-3 and Caspase-4 were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05); however, the mRNA level of BAX was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the mRNA levels of the anti-apoptotic genes Survivin and BCL-XL were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and oocyte quality was adversely affected. Together, our results confirmed that glyphosate impairs the quality of oocytes by promoting abnormal oocyte redox levels and apoptosis.

Cardiorenal Syndrome Triggered by Slowly Progressive Drugs Toxicity-Induced Renal Failure along with Minimal Mitral Disease: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

We report the case of a 93-year-old patient with normal left ventricular function and severe mitral annulus calcification, with mild mitral steno-insufficiency.

CASE PRESENTATION

She had developed creeping drugs-induced renal toxicity that is generally totally overlooked, due mainly to statins, a proton pump inhibitor, and aspirin. The Na and fluid retention, along with hypertension that ensued, although not severe, caused acute heart failure (sub-pulmonary edema) by worsening the mitral insufficiency. This occurred due to a less efficient calcific mitral annulus contraction during systole and an increasing mitral transvalvular gradient, as the transvalvular mitral gradient has an exponential relation to flow. After the suspension of the nephrotoxic drugs and starting intravenous furosemide, she rapidly improved. At 6 months follow-up, she is stable, in an NYHA 1-2 functional class, despite the only partial recovery of the renal function.

CONCLUSION

Progressive renal failure can functionally worsen even minimal mitral valvulopathy. Drug-induced nephrotoxicity can always be suspected in case of renal failure of unknown etiology. The suspension of the culprit drugs can improve renal function and dramatically improve the clinical symptoms even in a nonagenarian.

Predictors of Exercise Capacity in Dilated Cardiomyopathy with Focus on Pulmonary Venous Flow Recorded with Transesophageal Eco-Doppler

The aim of this study was to clarify the relative contribution of elevated left ventricle (LV) filling pressure (FP) estimated by pulmonary venous (PV) and mitral flow, transesophageal Doppler recording (TEE), and other extracardiac factors like obesity and renal insufficiency (KI) to exercise capacity (ExC) evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). During the CPX test, 119 patients (pts) with DCM underwent both peak VO2 consumption and then TEE with color-guided pulsed-wave Doppler recording of PVF and transmitral flow. In 78 patients (65%), peak VO2 was normal or mildly reduced (>14 mL/kg/min) (group 1) while it was markedly reduced (≤14 mL/kg/min) in 41 (group 2). In univariate analysis, systolic fraction (S Fract), a predictor of elevated pre-a LV diastolic FP, appeared to be the best diastolic parameter predicting a significantly reduced peak VO2. Logistic regression analysis identified five parameters yielding a unique, statistically significant contribution in predicting reduced ExC: creatinine clearance < 52 mL/min (odds ratio (OR) = 7.4, p = 0.007); female gender (OR = 7.1, p = 0.004); BMI > 28 (OR = 5.8, p = 0.029), age > 62 years (OR = 5.5, p = 0.03), S Fract < 59% (OR = 4.9, p = 0.02). Conclusion: KI was the strongest predictor of reduced ExC. The other modifiable factors were obesity and severe LV diastolic dysfunction expressed by blunted systolic venous flow. Contrarily, LV ejection fraction was not predictive, confirming other previous studies. This has important clinical implications.

Cardiovascular damage associated with subchronic exposure to the glyphosate herbicide in Wistar rats

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Although some studies have shown cardiac electrophysiological changes associated to glyphosate, the histopathological changes that this herbicide may cause in the cardiovascular system are not yet established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of subchronic oral and inhalation exposure to the glyphosate herbicide in rats. Eighty albino Wistar rats were distributed into eight groups (five males and five females/group): inhalation control: nebulization with sodium chloride solution (NaCl); oral control: nebulized feed with NaCl; low inhalation concentration: nebulization with 3.71 × 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare (g.a.i./ha) of glyphosate; low oral concentration: nebulized feed with 3.71 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; medium inhalation concentration: nebulization with 6.19 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; medium oral concentration: nebulized feed with 6.19 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; high inhalation concentration: nebulization with 9.28 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate; and high oral concentration: nebulized feed with 9.28 × 10-3 g.a.i./ha of glyphosate. After 75 days of exposure, the animals were euthanized, and aortas and hearts were collected for histopathological analysis. Fatty streaks were observed in most animals exposed to glyphosate and were more prevalent in male rats, regardless of the route of exposure (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the measurements of the thickness of the right and left ventricle or in the collagen density of both ventricles in any of the groups evaluated (p > 0.05). Our study suggests that glyphosate has atherogenic potential, regardless of the concentration and route of exposure.

Coronary Flow and Reserve by Enhanced Transthoracic Doppler Trumps Coronary Anatomy by Computed Tomography in Assessing Coronary Artery Stenosis

We report the case of a 71-year-old patient with many risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis, who underwent computed coronary angiography (CTA), in accordance with the guidelines, for recent onset atypical chest pain. CTA revealed critical (>50% lumen diameter narrowing) stenosis of the proximal anterior descending coronary, and the patient was scheduled for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Before ICA he underwent enhanced transthoracic echo-Doppler (E-Doppler TTE) for coronary flow detection by color-guided pulsed-wave Doppler recording of the left main (LMCA) and whole left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD,) along with coronary flow reserve (CFR) in the distal LAD calculated as the ratio, of peak flow velocity during i.v. adenosine (140 mcg/Kg/m) to resting flow velocity. E-Doppler TTE mapping revealed only mild stenosis (28% area narrowing) of the mid LAD and a CFR of 3.20, in perfect agreement with the color mapping showing no flow limiting stenosis in the LMCA and LAD. ICA revealed only a very mild stenosis in the mid LAD and mild atherosclerosis in the other coronaries (intimal irregularities). Thus, coronary stenosis was better predicted by E-Doppler TTE than by CTA. Coronary flow and reserve as assessed by E-Doppler TTE trumps coronary anatomy as assessed by CTA, without exposing the patient to harmful radiation and iodinated contrast medium.

Minimal Cardiac Perforation by Lead Pacemaker Complicated with Pericardial Effusion and Impending Tamponade: Optimal Management with No Pericardiocentesis Driven by Echocardiography

We report the case of a 51-year-old patient who underwent the implantation of a bi-ventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) complicated by a sub-acute right ventricular minimal perforation with pericardial effusion and echocardiographic signs of tamponade. A new echocardiographic plane orientation allowed us to diagnose this condition in emergency and to make the right decision without delay, which consisting in unscrewing the active fixation screw under fluoroscopy guidance, while the pericardiocentesis was postponed. Thanks to the intervention focused on eliminating the cause of the postcardiac injury syndrome, the patient recovered rapidly and ultimately avoided the pericardiocentesis procedure.