Mercury and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring the Link through Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis

Mercury (Hg) is a non-essential trace metal with unique neurochemical properties and harmful effects on the central nervous system. In this study, we present a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed research encompassing five crucial clinical matrices: hair, whole blood, plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and urine. We assess the disparities in Hg levels between gender- and age-matched neurotypical children (controls) and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (cases). After applying rigorous selection criteria, we incorporated a total of 60 case-control studies into our meta-analysis. These studies comprised 25 investigations of Hg levels in hair (controls/cases: 1134/1361), 15 in whole blood (controls/cases: 1019/1345), 6 in plasma (controls/cases: 224/263), 5 in RBCs (controls/cases: 215/293), and 9 in urine (controls/cases: 399/623). This meta-analysis did not include the data of ASD children who received chelation therapy. Our meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in Hg levels in hair and urine between ASD cases and controls. In whole blood, plasma, and RBCs, Hg levels were significantly higher in ASD cases compared to their neurotypical counterparts. This indicates that ASD children could exhibit reduced detoxification capacity for Hg and impaired mechanisms for Hg excretion from their bodies. This underscores the detrimental role of Hg in ASD and underscores the critical importance of monitoring Hg levels in ASD children, particularly in early childhood. These findings emphasize the pressing need for global initiatives aimed at minimizing Hg exposure, thus highlighting the critical intersection of human–environment interaction and neurodevelopment health

Glutathione as a suitable biomarker in hepatopancreas, gills and muscle of three freshwater crayfish species

We determined the contents of total glutathione (tGSH), reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and values of the glutathione redox index (GSH RI) in hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle of three freshwater crayfish species: noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) from the Southern Morava River, stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) from the Krajkovačka River, and spinycheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus) from the Danube River. The obtained data show strong tissue and species specifity of investigated parameters: tGSH, GSH, GSSG, and GSH RI in the hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle of the indicated crayfish species. Our work represents the first study of its kind and showed that the investigated parameters can be considered suitable biomarkers of the cellular glutathione redox status in of freshwater crayfish species.Određivan je sadržaj ukupnog glutationa (tGSH),redukovanog glutationa (GSH),oksidovanog glutationa (GSSG)i glutation redoks indeksa (GSH RI)u hepatopankreasu, škrgama i mišićima tri vrste slatkovodnih rakova: rečnog raka (Astacus astacus) iz reke Južna Morava, raka kamenjara (Austropotamobius torrentium) iz Krajkovačke reke i američkog raka (Orconecteslimosus) iz reke Dunav. Dobijeni podaci pokazuju značajnu tkivnu i specijes specifičnost ispitivanih parametara: GSH, GSSG i GSHRI u hepatopankreasu, škrgama i mišićima kod rakova. Naš rad predstavlja prvu studiju ove vrste i pokazuje da ispitivani parametri mogu biti pogodni biomarkeri ćelijskog redoks statusa glutationa kod slatkovodnih vrsta rakova.Projekat ministarstva br. 143035

Results of the 2006 Sava survey: Aquatic macroinvertebrates

The paper presents some results of the 2006 Sava survey. The investigation was carried out at four locations along 188 km of the Serbian stretch of the Sava River (206 km of the river belongs to Serbia). Among other things (physical and chemical properties of water and sediment, phytoplankton, and phytobenthos), the study included investigation of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Sixty-two taxa were identified in this typical lowland river. Mollusks and oligochaetes were the most diverse groups of macroinvertebrates. Our results support the hypothesis that the Sava River is an important bio-invasion trajectory, a part of the Southern Invasive Corridor of Europe. Five alien macroinvertebrate taxa were identified, some of which (Corbicula fluminea, Branchyura sowerbyi, and Anodonta woodiana) were found to be important components of the community.Cilj rada je da se prikaže deo rezultata istraživanja na reci Savi tokom 2006. Istraživanje je vršeno na četiri lokaliteta duž 188 km rečnog toka Save kroz Srbiju (od 206 km ukupne dužine toka). Pored istraživanja ostalih parametara (analiza fizičkih i hemijskih karakteristika vode, sedimenta, fitoplanktona i fitobentosa) vršena su i istraživanja akvatičnih makroinvertebrata. Ukupno je zabeleženo 62 taksona. Najraznovrsnije grupe su Oligochaeta i Mollusca. Dobijeni rezultati potvrđuju pretpostavku da je reka Sava važan invazivni put i da predstavlja deo južnoevropskog invazivnog koridora. Ukupno je zabeleženo 5 alohtonih vrsta makroinvertebrata, od kojih neke pred stavljaju važne komponente zajednice (Corbicula fluminea, Branchyura sowerbyi, i Anodonta woodiana).Projekat ministarstva br. 143023B i 143035

Effect of coenzyme Q10 on ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q concentrations in testes of rats chronically exposed to cadmium

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The effect of cadmium on ascorbic acid, vitamin E and coenzyme Q concentrations in rat kidneys: A possible protective role of coenzyme Q10

Projekat ministarstva br. 03E18 i 03E2

Supstrati za organsku proizvodnju rasada paradajza

One of the main tasks for every certified organic vegetable producer is to grow healthy and well-developed transplants. The aim of this study was to examine different substrates designed for the production of organic tomato transplants. On the basis of preliminary experiments, seven substrates consisting of different parts of natural peat, vermicompost, shrub and tree leaves compost and zeolites were compared with standard commercial substrates using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) transplants grown in pots. The data concerning plant height, number of leaves, fresh plant mass, appearance of flower buds were collected. The differences in the examined traits were not significant for the majority of substrates. The zeolite-based substrate with high peat and vermicompost content achieved the best results and its production for the market should be considered. Three zeolite-based substrates with high rates of vermicompost and compost should be used as a model for tomato transplants substrate preparation.Jedan od glavnih zadataka svakog sertifikovanog proizvođača organskog povrća je da odgaji dobro razvijen rasad. Ispitivanje različitih supstrata dizajniranih za organsku proizvodnju rasada paradajza bio je glavni cilj ovog istraživanja. Na osnovu rezultata prethodnih istraživanja, pripremljeno je sedam smeša supstrata sastavljenih od različitih udela prirodnog treseta, glistenjaka, kompostiranog lišća drveća i žbunja i prirodnih zeolita i upoređeno sa standardnim komercijalnim supstratima. Prikupljeni su podaci koji su se odnosili na visinu biljke, broj listova po biljci, masu sveže biljke i pojavu cvetnih pupoljaka. Za većinu ispitivanih mešavina zabeležene razlike nisu bile statistički značajne u poređenju sa komercijalnim supstratima. Kod mešavine supstrata na bazi zeolita sa visokim sadržajem treseta i glistenjaka zabeleženi su najbolji rezultati. Ova smeša bi mogla da bude ponuđena kao gotov proizvod na tržištu. Tri smeše na bazi zeolita sa visokim sadržajem glistenjaka i komposta trebalo bi da posluže kao model za pripremu supstrata namenjenih sertifikovanoj organskoj proizvodnji

Semantic Search Engine as tool for clinical decision support in Register for Acute Coronary Syndrome

This paper presents the implementation and use of Semantic Search Engine (SSE) as part of knowledge management system functionalities in Register for Acute Coronary Syndrome (REACS). REACS SSE is part of a clinical decision support system and is used as an aid in decision making in clinical processes related to the care and treatment of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Association between oxidative stress biomarkers and concentrations of some metal ions in the blood of patients with brain tumors and hydrocephalus

Introduction Any substance that induces production of free radicals can be a potential cause of brain damage. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between some metal ions and oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of patients with brain tumor and hydrocephalus. Material and methods Our study included 27 control subjects, 24 patients with brain tumor and 21 patients with hydrocephalus. The activities of superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), as well as concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxides (TBARS) and sulfhydryl groups (SH) were analyzed in the plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) of patients. We also determined the concentrations of Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Hg and Fe. Results The higher activity of SOD and concentration of GSH in both investigated groups could indicate higher oxidative stress. We also observed decreased levels of SH groups in both groups of patients. In both groups of patients we detected decreased concentrations of Ni, Co, Zn and Fe (and Mn in brain tumor patients) and increased concentrations of As, Se and Cd in the blood. Interestingly, we observed a higher concentration of Cd in both plasma and RBCs of hydrocephalus patients compared to the patients with brain tumor. Conclusions There are strong correlations between some metal ion concentrations and certain oxidative stress biomarkers in the blood of patients, which supports our hypothesis, but the observed trend needs to be further investigated

Activity of antioxidative defense enzymes in the blood of patients with liver echinococcosis

Background/Aim. Chronic echinococcocal disease is the parasite human disease caused by the penetration of larval (asexual) stages of the canine tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) in the liver of humans. After the penetration of the parasite, the host organism react by activating complement- depending immune response. The aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of larval form of Echinococcus granulosus in the liver on the activity of antioxidative defense enzymes in the blood of patients before and after the surgical intervention. Methods. We investigated the activity of antioxidative defense enzymes: copper/zinc containing superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the blood of patients before and after the surgical intervention in respect to the controls, clinically healthy persons. Results. Our results showed that the activity of the GSH-Px was significantly decreased in the plasma of the patients with echinocococal disease before the surgery in respect to the controls. The activity of GST was significantly higher in the blood of the patients after the surgery in comparison to the controls. Conclusion. Chronic liver echinoccocal disease caused significant changes of some antioxidative defense enzymes, first of all Se-dependent enzyme GSH-Px, which could be a suitabile biomarker in the biochemical evaluation of the disease. This work represents a first comprehensive study of the activity of antioxidative defense enzymes in cronic liver echinococcocosis in the patients before and after the surgical intervention in respect to the clinically healthy persons

Activity of oxidative stress biomarkers in the white muscle of red mullet (Mullus barbatus L.) from the Adriatic sea

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of oxidative stress biomarkers (total superoxide dismutase - Tot SOD; and copper and zinc-containing superoxide dismutase - CuZn SOD; manganese-containing superoxide dismutase - Mn SOD; catalase - CAT; glutathione peroxidase - GSH-Px; and glutathione reductase - GR), as well as the biotransformation phase II enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), in the white muscle of red mullet (Mullus barbatus L.) at Platamuni (PL) and Valdanos (VAL) in the Adriatic Sea during the winter and spring seasons. The obtained results show both site and seasonal influences on the investigated parameters, with lower enzyme activities at VAL than at PL and in spring than in winter.Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitivanje aktivnosti biomarkera oksidacionog stresa(ukupne superoksid-dismutaze-Tot SOD, bakar cink sadržavajuće superoksid-dismutaze-CuZn SOD, mangan sadržavajuće superoksid-dismutaze-Mn SOD, katalaze-CAT, glutation-peroksidaze-GSH-Px i glutation-reduktaze-GR) kao i enzimafaze II biotransformacije glutation-S-transferaze (GST) u belom mišiću trlje (Mullus barbatus L.) sa lokaliteta Platamuni i Valdanosu Jadranskom moru (Crna Gora) u zimskoj i prolećnoj sezoni. Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju razlike ispitivanih parametara između različitih lokaliteta kao i ispitivanih sezona sa nižim aktivnostima enzima u VAL nego u PL i u proleće u odnosu nazimu.Projekat ministarstva br. 143035