Serum Levels of Trace Elements in Patients with Testicular Cancers

Introduction: Trace elements are primary components of biological structures; however, they can be toxic when their concentrations are higher than those needed for biological functions. Materials and Methods: In the present study serum levels of trace elements were measured in 30 patients (mean age was 26.9±11.2 years) newly diagnosed with germ cell testicular cancer and 32 healthy volunteers (mean age: 27.4±10.8) by using furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Serum samples were stored at-20°C until assays. Results: In patients with germ cell testicular cancer, the diagnosis was seminoma in 15, mix germ cell tumor in 7, embryonal carcinoma in 4, yolk sac tumor in 2 and teratoma in 2 patients. There was stage I testicular tumor in 19 patients (63.3%) while stage II in 6 patients (20.0%), stage IIIA in 4 patients (13.3%) and stage IIIC in one patient (3.4%). It was found that serum Co, Cu, Mg and Pb levels were increased (p<0.05), whereas Fe, Mn, and Zn levels were decreased in patients with testicular cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: These alterations may be important in the pathogenesis of testicular cancers; however, further prospective studies are needed to identify the relationship between testicular cancer and trace elements

Rapid copper acquisition by developing murine mesothelioma: Decreasing bioavailable copper slows tumor growth, normalizes vessels and promotes T cell infiltration

Copper, an essential trace element acquired through nutrition, is an important co-factor for pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Decreasing bioavailable copper has been used as an antiangiogenic and anti-cancer strategy with promising results. However, the role of copper and its potential as a therapy in mesothelioma is not yet well understood. Therefore, we monitored copper levels in progressing murine mesothelioma tumors and analyzed the effects of lowering bioavailable copper. Copper levels in tumors and organs were assayed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mesothelioma tumors rapidly sequestered copper at early stages of development, the copper was then dispersed throughout growing tumor tissues. These data imply that copper uptake may play an important role in early tumor development. Lowering bioavailable copper using the copper chelators, penicillamine, trientine or tetrathiomolybdate, slowed in vivo mesothelioma growth but did not provide any cures similar to using cisplatin chemotherapy or anti-VEGF receptor antibody therapy. The impact of copper lowering on tumor blood vessels and tumor infiltrating T cells was measured using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Copper lowering was associated with reduced tumor vessel diameter, reduced endothelial cell proliferation (reduced Ki67 expression) and lower surface ICAM/CD54 expression implying reduced endothelial cell activation, in a process similar to endothelial normalization. Copper lowering was also associated with a CD4+ T cell infiltrate. In conclusion, these data suggest copper lowering is a potentially useful anti-mesothelioma treatment strategy that slows tumor growth to provide a window of opportunity for inclusion of other treatment modalities to improve patient outcomes

The concentration of lead in muscle tissue of wild boars (Sus scrofa) in selected voivodships in Poland

Celem pracy była ocena stopnia bioakumulacji ołowiu w tkance mięśniowej dzików pozyskanych w Polsce, w sześciu wybranych województwach. Obecność zanieczyszczeń chemicznych jest jednym z kryteriów oceny bezpieczeństwa produktów przeznaczonych do konsumpcji. Materiał doświadczalny stanowiły próby pobrane w sezonie 2013/2014 od dzików będących w szczycie kondycyjnym. Zwierzęta odstrzelono w sześciu województwach: dolnośląskim, lubuskim, kujawsko-pomorskim, warmińsko-mazurskim, wielkopolskim oraz zachodniopomorskim. Przeprowadzona analiza pozwoliła stwierdzić, że dopuszczalne stężenie ołowiu zostało przekroczone tylko w pięciu przypadkach, co stanowi około 4,5% liczby prób. Przekroczenia miały miejsce w województwie wielkopolskim (1 próba), zachodniopomorskim (2 próby) oraz kujawsko-pomorskim (2 próby).The aim of the study was to assess the degree of bioaccumulation of lead in the muscle tissue of wild boars harvested in Poland in six selected voivodeships. The presence of chemical contaminants is one of the criteria for assessing the safety of food products for human consumption. The material consisted of samples taken from wild boars in peak condition during the 2013/2014 season. The animals were shot down in six voivodeships: Lower Silesian, Lubusz, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Warmian-Masurian, Greater Poland and West Pomeranian. The analysis showed that the acceptable concentration of lead was exceeded in only five cases, which was about 4.5% of the samples. Excessive concentrations occurred in the Greater Poland (1 sample), West Pomeranian (2 samples) and Kuyavian-Pomeranian (2 samples) voivodeships

Selenium concentration in the muscle tissue of wild boars (Sus scrofa) from selected regions in Poland

Celem badań była ocena koncentracji selenu w mięsie dzików pochodzących z trzech wybranych regionów Polski. Zawartość selenu analizowano w zależności od regionu (Mazury, Pomorze i Wielkopolska) oraz masy tuszy i płci dzików. Wykazano, że średnia zawartość selenu w badanym materiale wynosiła 0,093 μg/g. Najwyższe stężenie zaobserwowano w próbach mięsa dzików z Wielkopolski (0,099 μg/g) oraz w tkance mięśniowej loch (0,098 μg/g). Najwięcej selenu (0,101 μg/g) stwierdzono w tuszach o masie w zakresie 21-40 kg. Porcja 100 g mięsa z dzika pokrywa około 20% dziennego zapotrzebowania na selen u osób dorosłych i 30% u dzieci.The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of selenium in the meat of wild boars from three selected regions of Poland. Selenium concentration was analysed in relation to the region (Masuria, Pomerania and Greater Poland) and in relation to the carcass weight and sex of the animals. The average content of selenium in the material was 0.093 μg/g. The highest mean concentration was observed in the meat samples from Greater Poland (0.099 μg/g) and in the muscle tissue of females (0.098 μg/g). The most valuable source of selenium was the meat of animals with carcass weight ranging from 21 to 40 kg (0.101μg/g). A 100 g portion of wild boar meat meets about 20% of the daily requirement for selenium for adults and 30% for children

Charakterystyka struktury i właściwości mechanicznych złączy spawanych wiązką laserową stali nierdzewnych

This work presents the laser welding of dissimilar X12CrCoWVNbN12-2-2 and X10CrNi18-10 steels. This system is of interest, as laser welding offers new flexibility in the joining of metals and laser welds (LWs) and are usually of high quality; they are obtained only after the optimization of process parameters. The aim of the work was to investigate the microstructure, chemical composition, and hardness changes of laser-welded steels. After laser welding, two zones were generated in the processed materials: a fusion zone and a heat-affected zone. Due to solidification, a refinement of the microstructure occurred in the fusion zone. Examinations of the chemical composition of particular melted areas showed the occurrence of Nb-rich precipitations. The laser welding of steels led to increased hardness in the fusion zone (about 240–530 HV0.3).W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań różnorodnych złączy spawanych wiązką laserową stali X12CrCoWVNbN12-2-2 i X10CrNi18-10. Zastosowanie wiązki laserowej jest wysoce użyteczne ze względu na nowe możliwości procesu wytwarzania i zwykle wysoką jakość złączy po optymalizacji procesu. Celem pracy była ocena mikrostruktury, składu chemicznego i zmian twardości w złączach spawanych wiązką lasera. Po procesie spawania zaobserwowano dwa główne obszary, tj. linię wtopienia i strefę wpływu ciepła. Podczas krystalizacji w obszarze przy linii wtopienia zaobserwowano rozdrobnienie struktury. Szczegółowa analiza składu chemicznego ujawniła występowania wydzieleń bogatych w Nb w obszarze metalu stopionego. Zaobserwowano, że spawanie laserowe prowadzi do wzrostu twardości w obszarze przy linii wtopienia