Correlation of exhaled carbon monoxide level with disease severity in chronic obstruction pulmonary disease

Introduction:

Amplification of airway inflammation and its destruction due to oxidative stress is a major step in the pathogenesis of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD). Exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) may be quantified to evaluate the airway inflammation and oxidative stress in such patients.

Objectives:

To assess the disease severity of COPD and treatment response by measuring eCO as a biomarker.

Materials and Methods:

COPD patients diagnosed according to the global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease guidelines and healthy individuals as controls were selected. One hundred and fifty patients with COPD and 125 controls were included in the study. Participants were further subdivided on the basis of their smoking habits. Clinical examinations and spirometry were done to diagnose COPD by following the standard protocol. eCO was measured using a piCO + Smokerlyzer (Breath CO Monitor, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., Kent, UK). It was a single-center cross-sectional study.

Results:

Mean (± standard error of mean) CO levels in ex-smokers with COPD were higher (5.21 ± 1.546 ppm; P < 0.05) than in nonsmoking controls (1.52 ± 0.571 ppm) but were lower than in current smokers with COPD (12.55 ± 4.514 ppm; P < 0.05). eCO levels were higher in current smokers with COPD (12.55 ± 4.514 ppm; P < 0.05) compared to healthy smokers (9.71 ± 5.649). There was a negative correlation between eCO and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in COPD (r = −0.28; P < 0.05). The mean eCO level was decreased (6.291–4.332; P < 0.001) with improvement in lung function (FEV1 38.75%–50.65%: P < 0.05) after treatment with inhaled steroid.

Conclusion:

Our study concludes that quantification of eCO level in COPD varies with different grades of airway obstruction and to measure the treatment response. Measuring the level of eCO can be used to assess the indirect assessment of airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and severity of airway obstruction in COPD patients.

The gluten-free diet and its current application in coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis

BACKGROUND

A gluten-free diet (GFD) is currently the only available therapy for coeliac disease (CD).

OBJECTIVES

We aim to review the literature on the GFD, the gluten content in naturally gluten-free (GF) and commercially available GF food, standards and legislation concerning the gluten content of foods, and the vitamins and mineral content of a GFD.

METHODS

We carried out a PubMed search for the following terms: Gluten, GFD and food, education, vitamins, minerals, calcium, Codex wheat starch and oats. Relevant papers were reviewed and for each topic a consensus among the authors was obtained.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CD should avoid gluten and maintain a balanced diet to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients, vitamins, fibre and calcium. A GFD improves symptoms in most patients with CD. The practicalities of this however, are difficult, as (i) many processed foods are contaminated with gluten, (ii) staple GF foods are not widely available, and (iii) the GF substitutes are often expensive. Furthermore, (iv) the restrictions of the diet may adversely affect social interactions and quality of life. The inclusion of oats and wheat starch in the diet remains controversial.

Expression profiling of the sex-related gene Dmrt1 in adults of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)

Doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1 (Dmrt1) gene is a widely conserved gene involved in sex determination and differentiation across phyla. To gain insights on Dmrt1 implication for fish gonad cell differentiation and gametogenesis development, its mRNA was isolated from testis and ovary from the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus). The cDNA from Dmrt1 was synthesized and cloned, whereas its quantitative and qualitative gene expression, as well as its protein immunolocalization, were analyzed. A main product of 1.38 kb, which encodes a protein of 295 aa, was reported, but other minority Dmrt1 products were also identified by RACE-PCR. This gene is predominantly expressed in testis (about 20 times more than in other organs or tissues), specially in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, as well as in somatic Sertoli cells, indicating that Dmrt1 plays an important role in spermatogenesis. Although Dmrt1 transcripts also seem to be involved in oogenesis development, and it cannot be excluded that toadfish Dmrt1 could be functionally involved in other processes not related to sex.

Time and dose-dependent effects of phenobarbital on the rat liver miRNAome

In a previous study we had shown that treatment of male Fischer rats with exogenous chemicals for three months resulted in prominent, mode-of-action dependent effects on liver microRNA (miRNA) (Koufaris et al., 2012). Here we investigated how the effects of chemicals on liver miRNA in male Fischer rats relate to the length and dose of exposure to phenobarbital (PB), a drug with multiple established hepatic effects. Importantly, although acute PB treatment (1-7 days) had significant effects on liver mRNA and the expected effects on the liver phenotype (transient hyperplasia, hepatomegaly, cytochrome P450 induction), limited effects on liver miRNA were observed. However, at 14 days of PB treatment clear dose-dependent effects on miRNA were observed. The main effect of PB treatment from days 1 to 90 on liver miRNA was found to be the persistent, progressive, and highly correlated induction of the miR-200a/200b/429 and miR-96/182 clusters, occurring after the termination of the xenobiotic-induced transient hyperplasia. Moreover, in agreement with their reported functions in the literature we found associations between perturbations of miR-29b and miR-200a/200b by PB with global DNA methylation and zeb1/zeb2 proteins respectively. Our data suggest that miRNA are unlikely to play an important role in the acute responses of the adult rodent liver to PB treatment. However, the miRNA responses to longer PB exposures suggest a potential role for maintaining liver homeostasis in response to sub-chronic and chronic xenobiotic-induced perturbations. Similar studies for more chemicals are needed to clarify whether the temporal and dose pattern of miRNA-toxicant interaction identified here for PB are widely applicable to other xenobiotics.

Electrocoagulation for the treatment of textile industry effluent--a review

Various techniques such as physical, chemical, biological, advanced oxidation and electrochemical are used for the treatment of industrial effluent. The commonly used conventional biological treatment processes are time consuming, need large operational area and are not effective for effluent containing toxic elements. Advanced oxidation techniques result in high treatment cost and are generally used to obtain high purity grade water. The chemical coagulation technique is slow and generates large amount of sludge. Electrocoagulation has recently attracted attention as a potential technique for treating industrial effluent due to its versatility and environmental compatibility. This technique uses direct current source between metal electrodes immersed in the effluent, which causes the dissolution of electrode plates into the effluent. The metal ions, at an appropriate pH, can form wide range of coagulated species and metal hydroxides that destabilize and aggregate particles or precipitate and adsorb the dissolved contaminants. Therefore, the objective of the present manuscript is to review the potential of electrocoagulation for the treatment of industrial effluents, mainly removal of dyes from textile effluent.

Using expired air carbon monoxide to determine smoking status during pregnancy: preliminary identification of an appropriately sensitive and specific cut-point

BACKGROUND

Measurement of carbon monoxide in expired air samples (ECO) is a non-invasive, cost-effective biochemical marker for smoking. Cut points of 6ppm-10ppm have been established, though appropriate cut-points for pregnant woman have been debated due to metabolic changes. This study assessed whether an ECO cut-point identifying at least 90% of pregnant smokers, and misidentifying fewer than 10% of non-smokers, could be established.

METHODS

Pregnant women (N=167) completed a validated self-report smoking assessment, a urine drug screen for cotinine (UDS), and provided an expired air sample twice during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Half of women reported non-smoking status early (51%) and late (53%) in pregnancy, confirmed by UDS. Using a traditional 8ppm+cut-point for the early pregnancy reading, only 1% of non-smokers were incorrectly identified as smokers, but only 56% of all smokers, and 67% who smoked 5+ cigarettes in the previous 24h, were identified. However, at 4ppm+, only 8% of non-smokers were misclassified as smokers, and 90% of all smokers and 96% who smoked 5+ cigarettes in the previous 24h were identified. False positives were explained by heavy second hand smoke exposure and marijuana use. Results were similar for late pregnancy ECO, with ROC analysis revealing an area under the curve of .95 for early pregnancy, and .94 for late pregnancy readings.

CONCLUSIONS

A lower 4ppm ECO cut-point may be necessary to identify pregnant smokers using expired air samples, and this cut-point appears valid throughout pregnancy. Work is ongoing to validate findings in larger samples, but it appears if an appropriate cut-point is used, ECO is a valid method for determining smoking status in pregnancy.

Is aristolochic acid nephropathy a widespread problem in developing countries? A case study of Aristolochia indica L. in Bangladesh using an ethnobotanical-phytochemical approach

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Species of Aristolochia are associated with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), a renal interstitial fibrosis and upper urinary tract cancer (UUC). Aristolochic acid nephropathy has been reported in ten countries but its true incidence is unknown and most likely underestimated. By combining an ethnobotanical and phytochemical approach we provide evidence for the risk of AAN occurring in Bangladesh. More specifically, we assess the intra-specific variation of aristolochic acid analogues in medicinally used Aristolochia indica samples from Bangladesh.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnobotanical information was collected from 16 kavirajes (traditional healers) in different study locations in Bangladesh. Plant samples were obtained from native habitats, botanical gardens, herbal markets and pharmaceutical companies. The samples were extracted using 70% methanol and were analysed using LC-DAD-MS and (1)H-NMR.

RESULTS

Roots as well as leaves are commonly used for symptoms such as snake bites and sexual problems. Among the informants knowledge about toxicity or side effects is very limited and Aristolochia indica is often administered in very high doses. Replacement of Aristolochia indica with other medicinal plants such as Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz was common. Aristolochia indica samples contained a variety of aristolochic acid analogues such as aristolochic acid I, aristolochic acid II, cepharadione A and related compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

AAN cases are likely to occur in Bangladesh and more awareness needs to be raised about the health risks associated with the use of Aristolochia indica and other species of Aristolochia as herbal medicines.

Toxicology, occurrence and risk characterisation of the chloropropanols in food: 2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol

Great attention has been paid to chloropropanols like 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol and the related substance glycidol due to their presence in food and concerns about their toxic potential as carcinogens. The other chloropropanols 2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol have been found in certain foods, but occurrence data are generally limited for these compounds. 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol has the most toxicological relevance showing clear carcinogenic effects in rats possibly via a genotoxic mechanism. The dietary exposure to 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol is quite low. Calculated "Margins of Exposure" values are above 10,000. It is concluded that the 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol exposure is of low concern for human health. The toxicology of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol has not been adequately investigated. Its toxicological potential regarding hepatotoxic effects seems to be lower than that of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol. Limited data show that 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol occurs only in trace amounts in food, indicating that exposure to 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol seems to be also of low concern for human health. The dietary 2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol burden appears to be lower than that of 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol. An adequate risk assessment for 2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol cannot be performed due to limited data on the toxicology and occurrence in food. This article reviews the relevant information about the toxicology, occurrence and dietary exposure to the chloropropanols 2-monochloro-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol.

Taiwan food scandal: the illegal use of phthalates as a clouding agent and their contribution to maternal exposure

In 2011 the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration reported that plasticizers di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP), endocrine disruptors, were illegally added to clouding agents used in foods and beverages. 965 products were found contaminated, of which 206 were exported to 22 countries. This study's purpose was to obtain English names for 28 contaminated products for which DEHP levels were reported, calculate estimated average daily intake (mg/kg/day) for a 50 kg woman consuming one portion, and compare to U.S. and E.U. guidelines for daily intake. We found that drinking just one bottle (500 ml) of sports drinks would result in an average DEHP intake of 0.14 mg/kg bw/day (range 0.091-0.341), which exceeds by several fold government guidelines (0.02-0.06 mg/kg bw/day). One (2 g) serving from 4/14 samples of contaminated dietary supplements exceeds the guideline of 0.02 mg/kg bw/day. In conclusion, consuming even one portion of tainted drinks and some powders would lead to daily intake of DEHP that greatly exceeds established safety guidelines, raising concerns about potential adverse effects, particularly reproductive tract development in the male fetus. Global distribution of DEHP-contaminated and other adulterated products should prompt governments to become proactive in food safety regulations and chemical testing.