Heavy Metals in the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Mersin Bay, Turkey

The concentrations of four metals (copper, cadmium, zinc and lead) were quantified in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) tissues collected in January, April, June and September at two stations in Mersin Bay, northeastern Mediterranean Sea, using ICP-MS. The metal concentrations in crabs from the two stations differed significantly. The hepatopancreas was the major organ accumulating metals, followed by gill and muscle tissues. Except for lead, the highest concentrations of metals were measured in the hepatopancreas. The hepatopancreas had higher concentrations of all heavy metals (Cu 321.1 ± 4.30; Zn 182.2 ± 3.40; Cd 48.2 ± 2.00) compared to gill (Cu 90.2 ± 1.35; Zn 104.3 ± 2.30; Cd 22.3 ± 3.40) and muscle (Cu 19.1 ± 1.10; Zn 55.1 ± 3.25; Cd 2.5 ± 0.20). Among the metals analyzed, Cu, Zn and Pb were the most abundant in the different tissues while Cd was the least abundant in C. sapidus. Seasonality in the levels of the four metals was determined.The highest concentrations of all metals were observed in the June (Zn 55.1 ± 3.25; Cu 19.1 ± 1.10; Cd 2.5 ± 0.20; Pb 5.1 ± 0.18) compared to all other months (Zn 34.1 ± 3.23; Cu 11.1 ± 1.15; Cd 0.9 ± 0.20; Pb 3.1 ± 0.21).

Coexistence of gastric cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor: report of two cases

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors and adenocancers are distinct neoplasms originating from different cell layers. Though adenocancers constitute the most common type of gastric tumors, synchronous development of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor is extremely rare. Case 1: A 63-year-old male patient underwent a radical total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and Rouxen-Y reconstruction. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination of the specimen disclosed an advanced stage, intestinal type adenocancer intermixing with a distinct lesion of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The early postoperative course was uneventful; however, recurrence was seen and he survived only 13 months. Case 2: A 60-year-old male patient underwent a distal subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy, and reconstruction was provided with Billroth 2 procedure. Intraoperatively, a 0.5 cm vegetating lesion was detected on the gastric body and resected. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination disclosed an intestinal type adenocancer, and the incidental lesion was reported as gastrointestinal stromal tumor. His postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is free of disease after one year. The conditions under which the synchronous tumors develop away from each other or collide are vague. Currently, the stage of the adenocancer and the size and mitotic manner of the gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the leading prognostic factors.

Biochemical alterations induced by Zn and Cd individually or in combination in the serum of Oreochromis niloticus

Measurement of serum biochemical parameters in response to metal exposures can be especially useful to help identify target organs of toxicity as well as the general health status of animals. Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Zn, 1.0 mg/L Cd, and 5.0 mg/L Zn + 1.0 mg/L Cd mixture for 7 and 28 days, and alterations in serum enzyme activities and ion levels were measured. Significant changes in all the biochemical parameters were found to be time dependent. Following metal exposure, alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated at both exposure periods. No changes in activities of lactate dehydrogenase and lipase were observed in response to single or combined Zn and Cd exposure at 7 days while they increased at 28 days. Fish exposed to metals showed a decrease in cholinesterase activity at 7 days followed by a return to control levels at the end of the exposure period. The individual and combined effects of metals caused a decline in levels of Na(+), Cl(-), and Ca(2+), especially at 28 days. K(+) level increased at 7 days but it returned to control levels with increasing duration of exposure. This study indicated that the alterations in serum parameters may be a result of the target tissue (i.e., liver, gill, and kidney) damage and dysfunction induced by the metals and that these parameters can thus be used to assess the effects of metals on organisms.