Lead Ion Uptake By Sodium Alginate And Calcium Alginate Film: A Comparison Study

Abstract. Lead ion (Pb(II)) uptake from aqueous solution by two different alginate compounds was investigated. Sodium alginate (Na-Alg) and calcium alginate (Ca-Alg) films were successfully fabricated from the commercially available sodium alginate powder. The Pb(II) uptake performance by Na-Alg and CaAlg films was evaluated against time in a 10 mM Pb(II) solution's batch sorption system. Ca-Alg film was consistently showing a better Pb(II) uptake performance as compared to Na-Alg film within the investigated duration. Further evaluation on Ca-Alg film was carried out at lower Pb(II) concentrations, i.e. 1 mM and 0.1 mM, the Ca-Alg film showed the best performance in 0.1 mM Pb(II) solution at a uptake rate higher than 98%. The Pb(II) uptake performance of Ca-Alg film was also compared with that of the conventionally fabricated Ca-Alg beads. This result indicates that with the same amount of Ca-Alg used, the film shows approximately three time better Pb(II) uptake performance compared to the beads. The results reported herein indicates that Ca-Alg compound is an effective and efficient biosorbent, furthermore the Pb(II) uptake performance is influenced by the sample fabrication method as well, i.e. film versus bead, which contributed to the overall surface area

The trans fatty acid elaidate affects the global DNA methylation profile of cultured cells and in vivo

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effects of dietary trans fatty acids (tFAs) on human health are well documented. Although significantly reduced or banned in various countries, tFAs may trigger long-term responses that would represent a valid human health concern, particularly if tFAs alter the epigenome. METHODS: Based on these considerations, we asked whether the tFA elaidic acid (EA; tC18:1) has any effects on global DNA methylation and the transcriptome in cultured human THP-1 monocytes, and whether the progeny of EA-supplemented dams during either pregnancy or lactation in mice (n = 20 per group) show any epigenetic change after exposure. RESULTS: EA induced a biphasic effect on global DNA methylation in THP-1 cells, i.e. hypermethylation in the 1–50 μM concentration range, followed by hypomethylation up to the 200 μM dose. On the other hand, the cis isomer oleic acid (OA), a fatty acid with documented beneficial effects on human health, exerted a distinct response, i.e. its effects were weaker and only partially overlapping with EA’s. The maximal differential response between EA and OA was observed at the 50 μM dose. Array expression data revealed that EA induced a pro-inflammatory and adipogenic transcriptional profile compared with OA, although with modest effects on selected (n = 9) gene promoter methylation. In mice, maternal EA supplementation in utero or via the breastmilk induced global adipose tissue DNA hypermethylation in the progeny, that was detectable postnatally at the age of 3 months. CONCLUSION: We document that global DNA hypermethylation is a specific and consistent response to EA in cell culture and in mice, and that EA may exert long-term effects on the epigenome following maternal exposure. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12944-016-0243-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Associations between whole peripheral blood fatty acids and DNA methylation in humans

Fatty acids (FA) modify DNA methylation in vitro, but limited information is available on whether corresponding associations exist in vivo and reflect any short-term effect of the diet. Associations between global DNA methylation and FAs were sought in blood from lactating infants (LI; n = 49) and adult males (AMM; n = 12) equally distributed across the three conventional BMI classes. AMM provided multiple samples at 2-hour intervals during 8 hours after either a single Western diet-representative meal (post-prandial samples) or no meal (fasting samples). Lipid/glucose profile, HDAC4 promoter and PDK4 5'UTR methylation were determined in AMM. Multiple regression analysis revealed that global (in LI) and both global and PDK4-specific DNA methylation (in AMM) were positively associated with eicosapentaenoic and arachidonic acid. HDAC4 methylation was inversely associated with arachidonic acid post-prandially in AMM. Global DNA methylation did not show any defined within-day pattern that would suggest a short-term response to the diet. Nonetheless, global DNA methylation was higher in normal weight subjects both post-prandially and in fasting and coincided with higher polyunsaturated relative to monounsaturated and saturated FAs. We show for the first time strong associations of DNA methylation with specific FAs in two human cohorts of distinct age, diet and postnatal development stage

Human native lipoprotein-induced de novo DNA methylation is associated with repression of inflammatory genes in THP-1 macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously showed that a VLDL- and LDL-rich mix of human native lipoproteins induces a set of repressive epigenetic marks, <it>i.e. de novo </it>DNA methylation, histone 4 hypoacetylation and histone 4 lysine 20 (H4K20) hypermethylation in THP-1 macrophages. Here, we: 1) ask what gene expression changes accompany these epigenetic responses; 2) test the involvement of candidate factors mediating the latter. We exploited genome expression arrays to identify target genes for lipoprotein-induced silencing, in addition to RNAi and expression studies to test the involvement of candidate mediating factors. The study was conducted in human THP-1 macrophages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Native lipoprotein-induced <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation was associated with a general repression of various critical genes for macrophage function, including pro-inflammatory genes. Lipoproteins showed differential effects on epigenetic marks, as <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation was induced by VLDL and to a lesser extent by LDL, but not by HDL, and VLDL induced H4K20 hypermethylation, while HDL caused H4 deacetylation. The analysis of candidate factors mediating VLDL-induced DNA hypermethylation revealed that this response was: 1) surprisingly, mediated exclusively by the canonical maintenance DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, and 2) independent of the Dicer/micro-RNA pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our work provides novel insights into epigenetic gene regulation by native lipoproteins. Furthermore, we provide an example of DNMT1 acting as a <it>de novo </it>DNA methyltransferase independently of canonical <it>de novo </it>enzymes, and show proof of principle that <it>de novo </it>DNA methylation can occur independently of a functional Dicer/micro-RNA pathway in mammals.</p

Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis with Post- Transplantation Cyclophosphamide in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation from an Unrelated or Mismatched Related Donor: A Comparative Study from the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT (CMWP-EBMT).

peer reviewedOutcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) using an unrelated donor (UD) or a mismatched related donor (MMRD) remain unknown. We report a retrospective comparison of PTCy-based allo-HCT from a UD, non-PTCy allo-HCT from a UD, and PTCy allo-HCT from an MMRD. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with CML undergoing first allo-HCT between 2012 and 2019 from a UD with either PTCy or non-PTCy graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis or from an MMRD using PTCy. The primary endpoint was GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS). A total of 1341 patients were included (82% in the non-PTCy UD cohort). With a median follow-up of 34.9 months, the 3-year GRFS was 43% in the non-PTCy cohort, 37% in the PTCy-UD cohort, and 39% PTCy-MMRD cohort (P = .15). Multivariable analyses revealed no significant differences among the 3 cohorts in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, RI, and nonrelapse mortality. Factors independently associated with worse OS in the overall cohort were Karnofsky Performance Status 2 (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.17; P = .005). These results suggest that allo-HCT in patients with CML using either a UD or an MMRD with PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis are feasible transplantation, platforms and that the disease stage at allo-HCT remains a major prognostic factor, highlighting the importance of closely monitoring CML patients and proposing transplantation when indicated when still in CP1

Perfil de Elementos Metálicos y de Algunos Metaloides en Aguas de Grifo de la Ciudad de Guanajuato Perfil de Elementos Metálicos y de Algunos Metaloides en Aguas de Grifo de la Ciudad de Guanajuato

En este trabajo se reportan los niveles de concentración de elementos metálicos y algunos metaloides en agua de grifo de la ciudad de Guanajuato. La técnica del estudio fue espectrometría de masas con plasma acoplado inductivamente como fuente de ionización (ICP-MS). En el análisis de 31 muestras de agua, los valores promedio de concentraciones encontradas fueron: -1 para Ag, Cd, Co, Se, Th, Tl, U; en el intervalo 0,2 μg l-1 – 1,5 μg l-1 para Cr, Hg, Mo, Pb, Sb; en el intervalo 1,5 – 6,0 μg l-1 para As, Mn, Ni, V; en el intervalo 15 μg l-1 – 71 μg l-1 para Ba, Cu y Zn. En base a la normatividad vigente (NOM-127 SSA1-1994, USEPA 2006), los resultados obtenidos indican que agua de grifo en Guanajuato no está contaminada por metales y metaloides. Sin embargo, en seis sitios de muestreo, las concentraciones de mercurio sobrepasaron el máximo nivel permisible por la Norma Ofi cial Mexicana (1 μg l-1). In this paper, the concentration levels of metals and metalloids found in tap water in the city of Guanajuato are reported. The quantification was carried out by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained in the analysis of tap water from 31 sampling sites showed the mean values -1 for Ag, Cd, Co, Se, Th, Tl, U; in the range 0,2 μg l-1– 1,5 μg l-1 for Cr, Hg, Mo, Pb, Sb; in the range 1,5 – 6,0 μg l-1 for As, Mn, Ni, V; in the range 15 μg l-1 – 71 μg l-1 for Ba, Cu y Zn. Based on current Mexican and US regulations (NOM-127 SSA1-1994, USEPA-2006), the results obtained indicate that the tap water in the city of Guanajuato is not contaminated by metals and metalloids. However, in samples from six sites, the concentration levels of mercury were higher than the maximum permissible level regulated by NOM (1 μg l-1).</p