Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Soil Cultivated with Industrial Wastewater from Different Sites of Chunian and Jamber, District, Kasur

In human diet, vegetables play important role to maintain the physiological conditions. Due to anthropogenic activities and pollution, the food items become contaminated. The present study was performed to evaluate the level of heavy metals in the vegetables irrigated with wastewater across Chunian and Jamber, district, Kasur. Level of heavy metals from the study area like Zinc, Lead and chromium in the soil, water and vegetables was compared. The four sites of each city and 10 vegetables e.g. potato, radish, carrot, fenugreek, spinach, tomato, Onion, Turnip, Cauliflower, Pangalo were selected to conduct the experiment. The vegetables were irrigated with industrial wastewater and the concentration of heavy metals was measured by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). We concluded that the level of heavy metals was beyond the FAO limits in irrigated water due to industrial waste. In Jamber and Chunian, the level of Zn and Pb was high and beyond the FAO safe limits in the all water sample, the level of Cr was much higher only in the water sample of one site from Jamber. The concentration of zinc was higher in soil samples as compared to lead and chromium. Zn and Pb in vegetables of study area were labeled as priority pollutants but this concentration was within the safe limits set by FAO. However, constant inspection of heavy metals is recommended to avoid accumulation in the food chain and thus avoid human health risks. Keywords: Atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Heavy metals, Industrial wastewater, Vegetables

The effect of sildenafil on rats with adenine-Induced chronic kidney disease

Karaca, Turan (Trakya author)The erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil has cardiopulmonary protective actions, and a nephroprotective action in cisplatin and ischemia-reperfusion- induced acute kidney injury. Here, we assessed its possible ameliorative action in a model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using adenine feeding. Eight groups of rats were treated with saline (controls), adenine (0.25% w/w in feed daily for 5 weeks), and oral sildenafil (0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg), either alone, or concomitantly with adenine. Urine was collected 24 h after the end of the treatments from all rats and blood pressure measured, followed by collection of blood and kidneys for the measurement of several functional, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Adenine treatment reduced body weight, creatinine renal clearance, and increased water intake and urine output, as well as the plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity, and albumin in urine. Adenine also increased the concentrations of the uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate, uric acid and phosphate, and a number of proteins and inflammatory cytokines, and decreased that of several anti - oxidant indices. Renal histopathological markers of damage (inflammation and fibrosis) were significantly increased by adenine. Sildenafil, given simultaneously with adenine, induced a dose - dependent improvements in most of the above parameters, suggesting its possible use as adjunct treatment for CKD in humans

Does swimming exercise affect experimental chronic kidney disease in rats treated with gum acacia?

Different modes of exercise are reported to be beneficial in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Similar benefits have also been ascribed to the dietary supplement gum acacia (GA). Using several physiological, biochemical, immunological, and histopathological measurements, we assessed the effect of swimming exercise (SE) on adenine-induced CKD, and tested whether SE would influence the salutary action of GA in rats with CKD. Eight groups of rats were used, the first four of which were fed normal chow for 5 weeks, feed mixed with adenine (0.25% w/w) to induce CKD, GA in the drinking water (15% w/v), or were given adenine plus GA, as above. Another four groups were similarly treated, but were subjected to SE during the experimental period, while the first four groups remained sedentary. The pre-SE program lasted for four days (before the start of the experimental treatments), during which the rats were made to swim for 5 to 10 min, and then gradually extended to 20 min per day. Thereafter, the rats in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th groups started to receive their respective treatments, and were subjected to SE three days a week for 45 min each. Adenine induced the typical signs of CKD as confirmed by histopathology, and the other measurements, and GA significantly ameliorated all these signs. SE did not affect the salutary action of GA on renal histology, but it partially improved some of the above biochemical and physiological analytes, suggesting that addition of this mode of exercise to GA supplementation may improve further the benefits of GA supplementation

Representative photograph of sections of renal tissue of rats treated with saline (A), saline + swimming exercise, SE (B), gum acacia, GA (C), GA + SE (D), adenine (E), adenine + SE (F), adenine + GA (G) and adenine + GA + SE (H), and stained with hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stain.

<p>Sections <b>A, B, C</b>, and <b>D</b> showed normal kidney architecture and histology. Sections <b>E</b> and <b>F</b> showed acute tubular necrosis (arrow head) with tubular distention with necrotic material (thin arrows), and many apoptotic cells (thin arrows). Sections G and F showed similar improvement in histological appearance with focal areas of acute tubular necrosis (arrow head), and less dilated tubules (thin arrow).</p

The plasma concentrations of urea, creatinine and indoxyl sulfate, and the creatinine clearance in rats treated with saline (C); saline + swimming exercise, (C + swim); adenine (A); A + swim; gum acacia (GA); GA + swim; A + GA; and A + G + swim.

<p>Each column is mean ± SEM (n  =  six rats). Statistical analysis by ANOVA followed by Newman–Keuls test.</p

The concentrations of cystatin C, nephrin and adiponectinin plasma of rats treated with saline (C); saline + swimming exercise (C + swim); adenine (A); A + swim; gum acacia (GA); GA + swim; A + GA; and A + G + swim.

<p>Each column is mean ± SEM (n  =  six rats). Statistical analysis by ANOVA followed by Newman–Keuls test.</p

Representative photograph of sections of renal tissue of rats treated with saline (A), saline + swimming exercise, SE (B), gum acacia, GA (C), GA + SE (D), adenine (E), adenine + SE (F), adenine + GA (G) and adenine + GA + SE (H), and analyzed immunohistochemically (anticaspase-3, streptavidin–biotin immunohistochemical method).

<p>Sections (<b>A</b>), (<b>B</b>), (<b>C</b>) and (<b>D</b>) showed normal kidney architecture and no apoptotic cells. Sections (<b>E</b>) and (<b>F</b>) both showed acute tubular necrosis with tubular distention and necrotic material and many apoptotic cells showing brown cytoplasmic staining (arrow head). Sections (<b>G</b>) and (<b>H</b>) both showed a similar degree of improvement in the histological appearance with few focal areas of acute tubular necrosis and very few apoptotic cells showing brown cytoplasmic staining (arrow head).</p

Body weight change (%), relative kidney weight (%), water intake, urine volume, feed intake, and fecal weight in rats treated with saline (C); saline + swimming exercise, (C + swim); adenine (A); A + swim; gum acacia (GA); GA + swim; A + GA; and A + G + swim.

<p>Each column is mean ± SEM (n  =  six rats). Statistical analysis by ANOVA followed by Newman– Keuls test.</p

The effect of swimming exercise (SE) on some antioxidant indices in kidney homogenates from rats with chronic kidney disease induced by feeding adenine (A) [0.25% w/w, 5 weeks], and the influence of gum acacia (GA) [15% w/v in drinking water, 5 weeks] with or without SE thereon.

<p>Values in the table are means ± SEM (n = 6 rats).</p><p>SOD  =  Superoxide dismutase; CAT  =  catalase; GSH  =  reduced glutathione and TAC  =  total antioxidant capacity.</p><p>*<i>P</i> less than 0.05.</p><p>**<i>P</i> less than 0.01 (Compared to control for the same index).</p