Detection of the risk of adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus by means of tumor markers (p53 and ki67)

The rising incidence of adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus has intensified the research into methods of early recognition of cancer risk, detecting cytological and architectural changes (dysplasia) or using biomarkers as predictive tests. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the involvement of two tumor markers: p53 (tumor suppressor gene) and Ki67 (proliferation marker), by means of immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies designed for the specific localization of p53 and Ki67 antigens, in esophageal biopsies with columnar metaplasia of patients with and without dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, and to anticipate which ones are liable to suffer it in the future. Both markers were positive in all intestinal metaplasia patients with high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, and even in some cases with low grade or without dysplasia. In contrast, in those who have gastric metaplasia, tumor markers were negative. Expression of biomarkers next to dysplasia reduces interobserver variation. Patients with these abnormalities have to be included into a surveillance protocol.Fil: Trakal, Esteban. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Guidi, Andrés Emilio. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Butti, Abel Luis L. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Trakal, Juan José. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Sambuelli, Rubén Horacio. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Zárate, Fabián Eduardo. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin

Urban vegetable contamination - The role of adhering particles and their significance for human exposure

While urban-grown vegetables could help combat future food insecurity, the elevated levels of toxic metals in urban soils need to be met with measures that minimise transfer to crops. The study firstly examines soil/dust particle inclusion in leafy vegetables and its contribution to vegetable metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn), using vegetable, soil and dust data from an open-field urban farm in southeastern Sweden. Titanium concentrations were used to assess soil/dust adherence. Results showed that vegetables contained 0.05–1.3 wt% of adhering particles (AP) even after washing. With 0.5 % AP, an adult with an average intake of vegetables could ingest approximately 100mg of particles per day, highlighting leafy vegetables as a major route for soil/dust ingestion. The presence of adhering particles also significantly contributed to the vegetable concentrations of As (9-20%), Co (17-20%), Pb (25-29%), and Cr (33-34%). Secondly, data from an indoor experiment was used to characterise root metal uptake from 20 urban soils from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the UK, and the Czech Republic. Combining particle adherence and root uptake data, vegetable metal concentrations were calculated for the 20 urban soils to represent hypothetical field scenarios for these. Subsequently, average daily doses were assessed for vegetable consumers (adults and 3-6 year old children), distinguishing between doses from adhering particles and root uptake. Risks were evaluated from hazard quotients (HQs; average daily doses/tolerable intakes). Lead was found to pose the greatest risk, where particle ingestion often resulted in HQs&gt;1 across all assessed scenarios. In summary, since washing was shown to remove only a portion of adhering metal-laden soil/dust particles from leafy vegetation, farmers and urban planners need to consider that measures to limit particle deposition are equally important as cultivating in uncontaminated soil.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-11-13 (hanlid);Funder: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the Linnaeus University; ALS Scandinavia AB;Full text license: CC BY</p

THE DIFFERENT FACES OF BIOCHAR: CONTAMINATION RISK VERSUS REMEDIATION TOOL

This article reviews the different aspects of biochar as source and sink of organic and inorganic contaminants. Biochar can contain organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heavy metals. As the distribution coefficients of the biochar especially for contaminants are high, the freely dissolved concentrations are low and with that also the bioavailability. The link between biochar’s inherent contaminants and toxicity to soil meso– and macro–fauna remains unclear, with data being often contradictory and influenced by feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. The biochar’s potential to remediate contaminated soils has mainly been addressed in lab studies, but rarely in the field. This far, results have been contradicting. Many studies reported successful immobilization of contaminants but some not. In summary, the ambivalent face of the biochar with regard to contaminants prevails. In future, long term field studies are needed to properly address the sustainability of biochar in this respect. First published online: 02 Feb 201