[Estimation of copper in the urine of cigarette smokers]

INTRODUCTION

Cigarette smoking is one of the most common habits of the modern world. According to a NATPOL PLU study, every third adult Pole is dependent on nicotine. Tobacco smoke contains about 5,000 components, of which over 1,000 are very toxic chemical substances (3,4-benzopyrene, heavy metals, free radicals, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides and N-nitrosamines). Exposure to tobacco smoke is an example of a complex, with a significant number of interactions.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the concentration of copper in the urine of smokers. Based on the results, an attempt was made to determine whether smoking can affect the level of copper in the body.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved 170 healthy volunteers, 99 smokers and 71 non-smokers (control group). The age of patients in both groups were in the range of 20-60 years. The mean age for men and women was 41 years. The average length of cigarette smoking was 18 years for women and 21 years for men, and the number of cigarettes smoked 1-40 ⁄ 24. The urine concentrations of Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and serum creatinine kinetic method using a set of BIOLAB. Cu concentration in urine was expressed in mg / g creatinine.

RESULTS

Smokers were found to have reduced levels of copper in the urine, depending on sex, age and brand of cigarettes. In male smokers, copper concentration in the urine was dependent on age and time of smoking, whereas among women this relationship was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette smoking significantly influences the level of copper in the urine. Both female and male smokers showed reduced levels of copper in the urine, which may indicate its increased accumulation in the body. Excessive accumulation of copper is very dangerous since it may exhibit toxic effects towards many organs and systems.

[Estimation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration in the urine of cigarette smokers]

INTRODUCTION

Cigarette smoking is one of the most common habits of the modern world. The World Health Organization (WHO) showed that about 30% of the world's population over the age of 15 smoked cigarettes. That gives the number of 1.1 billion smokers. It is known that the habit of smoking is a serious risk to human health and life. Cigarette smoke induces the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can cause direct damage of DNA chain and leads to the mutagenic and carcinogenic effect.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the concentration of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the urine of smokers. Based on the obtained results an attempt to determine whether the concentration of 8-OH-dG in the urine can be an indicator of genotoxicity of tobacco smoke.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted in 83 healthy volunteers, 63 smokers and 20 non-smokers (control group). The age of patients in both groups were in the range 20-60 years. Average age of women and men in the control group and the test group was 34 years. Duration of smoking was 1-30 years, the number of cigarettes smoked from 1 to over 20 per day. In the urine the concentration of 8-OH-dG was determined using Bioxytech® 8-OH-dG-EIA™Kit (manufactured by OXIS International, Inc., Portland, USA) and the concentration of creatinine using in vitro diagnostic kit BIOLABO. The concentration of 8-OHdG in urine was expressed in ng/g creatinine.

RESULTS

More than 3-fold increase in the concentration of 8-OHdG in the urine of smokers was found. The increase in the concentration of 8-OHdG in the urine depended on age, the amount of smoked cigarettes per 24 hours, duration of smoking and cigarette brands.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in the concentration of 8-OHdG in the urine of smokers, both women and men indicates DNA damage and the genotoxicity action of cigarette smoke. According to our previously conducted studies and examinations of other authors, it can be suggested that the concentration of 8-OHdG in urine may be considered as the sensitive and specific marker of oxidative DNA damage.

Effect of zinc supplementation on bone metabolism in male rats chronically exposed to cadmium

The aim of the present study is to investigate, based on the rat model of moderate and relatively high human exposure to cadmium (Cd), whether zinc (Zn) supplementation may prevent Cd-induced disorders in bone metabolism. For this purpose, male Wistar rats received Cd (5 and 50mg/l) or/and Zn (30 and 60mg/l) in drinking water for 6 and 12 months. Bone densitometry and biochemical markers of bone turnover were used to assess the effects of Cd or/and Zn. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were measured in the femur. Serum osteocalcin (OC) and alkaline phosphatase in trabecular (bT-ALP) and cortical (bC-ALP) bone were determined as bone formation markers, and carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX) in serum were measured as bone resorption marker. Serum concentration of calcium (Ca) and its renal handling, as well as Zn and Cd concentrations in the serum/blood, urine and femur were evaluated as well. The exposure to 5 and 50mg Cd/l (0.340+/-0.026 and 2.498+/-0.093mg Cd/kg body wt/24h, respectively), in a dose and duration dependent manner, affected bone turnover (inhibited bone formation and stimulated its resorption) and disturbed bone mineralization (decreased BMC, BMD and Zn concentration). Zn supply at the concentration of 30 and 60mg/l (1.904+/-0.123 and 3.699+/-0.213mg/kg body wt/24h, respectively) during Cd exposure influenced the Cd-induced disorders in bone metabolism. Zn administration to the Cd-exposed rats enhanced the bone ALP activity and prevented Cd-induced bone resorption, but had no statistically significant effect on BMC and BMD; however, mean values of the densitometric parameters in the rats receiving both Cd and Zn were higher than in those treated with Cd alone. Moreover, Zn supplementation at both levels of Cd exposure was found to prevent Cd accumulation in the femur and the Cd-induced decrease in bone Zn concentration. The results of the present study allow the conclusion that Zn supplementation during Cd exposure may partly protect from disorders in bone metabolism. The influence of Zn may be accompanied by its ability to prevent Cd-induced Zn deficiency and to decrease Cd accumulation in bone tissue. The findings seem to indicate that enhanced dietary intake of Zn in subjects chronically exposed to moderate and relatively high Cd levels may have a protective influence on the skeleton.

Ultrastructural study of the submandibular gland of the rat after 6-month exposure to cadmium and zinc in drinking water

PURPOSE

Cadmium toxicity in the exposure of the general, professional and cigarette smoking populations has been well known. From the dental point of view, it is important to find out whether and how separate and joint exposures to cadmium and zinc affect the structure and function of the submandibular gland, which is the major saliva-releasing gland. Cadmium, a particularly active xenobiotic, damages cellular metabolism at the level of various enzymatic systems of the cell, which may disturb functioning of the salivary glands. Mutual interactions of cadmium and zinc suggest a protective role of zinc through the induction of metallothionein which inactivates cadmium effect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The aim of the study was to assess the ultrastructural picture of chosen cell organelles of the submandibular salivary gland of the rat exposed to cadmium and zinc. The study used 90 male Wistar rats, of the initial b.w. 150-180 g. The animals were exposed to cadmium and/or zinc for 6 months. Cadmium was received in aqueous solutions of cadmium chloride with drinking water at a concentration of 5 mg Cd/dm3 or 50 mg Cd/dm3. Zinc was also given in aqueous solutions of zinc chloride ad libitum at concentrations of 30 mg Zn/dm3 and 60 mg Zn/dm3.

RESULTS

The ultrastructural changes in the mucous and serous cells of the submandibular salivary gland were most pronounced at cadmium concentration of 50 mg Cd/dm3 and were mainly observed in the cell nucleus, Golgi Apparatus and secretory granules of the salivary gland cells.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Exposure to cadmium induces ultrastructural changes in the submandibular gland, which are dose and time of exposure. 2. Exposure to zinc did not affect significantly the ultrastructural picture of cells of the submandibular gland. 3. Zinc administered together with cadmium reduces the intensity of ultrastructural changes in the submandibular gland.

Antioxidant enzymes activity and lipid peroxidation in liver and kidney of rats exposed to cadmium and ethanol

The oxidative status of liver and kidney of rats co-exposed to cadmium (50 mg Cd/l in drinking water) and ethanol (5 g EtOH/kg body weight/24 h, intragastrically) for 12 weeks was studied. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were measured in homogenates of the liver and kidney. Concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and Cd in the serum or blood, and their content in the liver and kidney as well as EtOH concentration in the whole blood were assayed. Daily Cd intake in the Cd and Cd+EtOH groups was similar and ranged from 2.39 to 4.88 mg/kg body weight/24 h and from 2.64 to 4.14 mg/kg body weight/24 h, respectively. After the administration of EtOH alone, the activity of SOD increased in the kidney and decreased in the liver, whereas the activity of CAT decreased in both these organs, and MDA concentration increased in the liver and was unchanged in the kidney. The exposure to 50 mg Cd/l led to a decrease in the activities of SOD in the liver and CAT in the liver and kidney, and an increase in the kidney activity of SOD and MDA concentration in both these organs. In the rats co-exposed to Cd and EtOH, the kidney activity of SOD and the liver concentration of MDA were lower, whereas the kidney activity of CAT was higher compared to the Cd group. The concentration of Fe in the serum and its content in the liver of rats treated with EtOH increased, whereas the concentrations of Zn and Cu in the serum and the content of Zn, Cu and Fe in the kidney and that of Zn and Cu in the liver were unchanged. In the liver and kidney of rats treated with Cd alone, the content of Fe was decreased and that of Zn and Cu was enhanced. After EtOH administration to Cd-exposed rats, a decrease in Cu serum concentration and its liver content and an increase in Fe concentration in the serum and its content in the liver and kidney, compared to the group exposed to Cd alone, were noted. Moreover, EtOH decreased the blood Cd concentration and its accumulation in the liver and kidney of these animals. EtOH alone decreased Cd content in the liver and increased in the kidney, however the whole content of Cd in these organs was unchanged compared with control. The results of this study indicate that despite the ability of Cd and EtOH to induce the oxidative stress the effect in the liver and kidney is not intensified at simultaneous exposure to both substances. The changes in the studied indicators of oxidative stress (SOD, CAT and MDA) observed in the kidney and especially in the liver of the rats co-exposed to Cd and EtOH may result from an independent effect of Cd and/or EtOH and also from their interaction. The interactive effect may involve, among others, changes in Cd accumulation and content of Zn, Cu and Fe in these organs and their concentration in serum. Since the rats treated with Cd and Cd+EtOH had reduced drinking fluids intake that might result in dehydratation, the effect of the both xenobiotics on the oxidative status of the body may be not solely due to Cd and/or EtOH, but also the modyfing influence of accompanying alterations such as reduced water intake and dehydratation. The results of the study allow us to hypothesize that Cd-exposed alcohol misusers are not at enhanced risk of liver and kidney damage due to lipid peroxidation.