Activation of Inflammation/NF-κB Signaling in Infants Born to Arsenic-Exposed Mothers

The long-term health outcome of prenatal exposure to arsenic has been associated with increased mortality in human populations. In this study, the extent to which maternal arsenic exposure impacts gene expression in the newborn was addressed. We monitored gene expression profiles in a population of newborns whose mothers experienced varying levels of arsenic exposure during pregnancy. Through the application of machine learning–based two-class prediction algorithms, we identified expression signatures from babies born to arsenic-unexposed and -exposed mothers that were highly predictive of prenatal arsenic exposure in a subsequent test population. Furthermore, 11 transcripts were identified that captured the maximal predictive capacity to classify prenatal arsenic exposure. Network analysis of the arsenic-modulated transcripts identified the activation of extensive molecular networks that are indicative of stress, inflammation, metal exposure, and apoptosis in the newborn. Exposure to arsenic is an important health hazard both in the United States and around the world, and is associated with increased risk for several types of cancer and other chronic diseases. These studies clearly demonstrate the robust impact of a mother's arsenic consumption on fetal gene expression as evidenced by transcript levels in newborn cord blood

Comparative Assessment of Copper, Iron, and Zinc Contents in Selected Indian (Assam) and South African (Thohoyandou) Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Samples and Their Infusion: A Quest for Health Risks to Consumer

The current study aims to assess the infusion pattern of three important micronutrients namely copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) contents from black tea samples produced in Assam (India) and Thohoyandou (South Africa). Average daily intakes and hazardous quotient were reported for these micronutrients. Total content for Cu, Fe, and Zn varied from 2.25 to 48.82 mg kg−1, 14.75 to 148.18 mg kg−1, and 28.48 to 106.68 mg kg−1, respectively. The average contents of each of the three micronutrients were higher in tea leaves samples collected from South Africa than those from India while the contents in tea infusions in Indian samples were higher than in South African tea samples. Results of this study revealed that the consumption of 600 mL tea infusion produced from 24 g of made tea per day may be beneficial to human in terms of these micronutrients content. Application of nonparametric tests revealed that most of the data sets do not satisfy the normality assumptions. Hence, the use of both parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis that subsequently revealed significant differences in elemental contents among Indian and South African tea

Characterisation of two South American food and medicinal plants by chemometric methods based on their multielemental composition

Introduction - The chemometric characterisation of two plants frequently used as food and medicinal species, Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline venosa (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), was carried out based on their mineral composition. Both species, known by the common name of 'marcelas', are very similar in their morphological features but they have different medicinal and food properties.Objective - To develop multivariate models for the classification of A. satureiodes and A. venosa based on their mineral content.Methodology - The analytic determinations were made by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry from aerial parts of the plants. An internal standard was used to evaluate the accuracy in the sample treatment and the recovery of toxic elements was studied. The multivariate methods used include principal components analysis, cluster analysis and linear discriminant analysis.Results - Classification for both A. satureioides and A. venosa was successful in all cases using only four variables: aluminium, iron, magnesium and sulphur content. The concentrations of the following elements were determined: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V, Y and Zn.Conclusions - This method is useful to identify both species in raw material in order to detect eventual errors of selection. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The characterization of two plants, frequently used as food and medicinal species from South America, Achyrocline satureioides and Achyrocline venosa (Asteraceae:Gnaphalieae), was carried out based on their multielemental composition. Twenty five elements, including toxic elements, were analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) from aerial parts of the plants. Recovery of toxic elements was study. For characterization, the multivariate methods used include Principal Components Analysis, Cluster Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis.Fil: Cantarelli, Miguel Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Pellerano, Roberto Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: del Vitto, Luis Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Marchevsky, Eduardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Química de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Química de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Camiña, José Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin