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

A first record of the antioxidant defense and selected trace elements in Salamandra salamandra larvae on Mt. Avala and Mt. Vršački Breg (Serbia)

We investigated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathioneperoxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathioneS-transferase (GST) in the whole body of fire salamander larvae (Salamandra salamandra) from twolocalities on Mt. Avala (AVS and ABP) and one locality on Mt. Vršački Breg (VSB), Serbia. We alsodetermined the total glutathione (GSH) and sulfhydryl group (SH) contents, as well as the concentrations ofmanganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and uranium(U). The obtained results show that animals from VSB had significantly lower weights and lengths thananimals from AVS and ABP. The activities of all investigated enzymes were significantly higher, while theSH content was significantly lower in animals from VSB compared to those from AVS and ABP. Nocorrelations between trace-element concentrations in water and animal tissue were observed. We concludedthat the obtained results were more likely a consequence of the combination of developmental differencesand the effects of different habitat conditions, environmental and anthropogenic influences than ofconcentrations of trace elements in the water alone

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

Differences between antioxidant defense parameters and specific trace element concentrations in healthy, benign, and malignant brain tissues

There are only a few reports examining the impact of oxidative stress in patients with benign andmalignant brain tumors. In this study we investigated whether there are changes in antioxidantsystem (AOS) parameters and key trace elements between control, benign and malignant braintissues. The study also aimed to examine correlations between the analyzed parameters. The studyenrolled both types of brain tumors, benign tumors (BT) and malignant tumors (MT). The resultswere compared with control tissue (CT) without tumor infiltration collected from patients with BT.The following antioxidant parameters were determined: activities of total, manganese‑containing,and copper/zinc‑containing superoxide dismutase (TotSOD, MnSOD and CuZnSOD), activities ofcatalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S‑transferase, glutathione reductase and acetylcholineesterase (AChE), the concentrations of glutathione and sulfhydryl groups and of manganese (Mn),copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se). BT and MT had altered activities/levels of multiple AOSparameters as compared to CT, indicating that tumor cells had an altered cell metabolism and changesin AOS represent adaptive response to increased oxidative stress. Low MnSOD and AChE and highGST activities were significant for distinguishing between MT and CT. Malignant tissue was alsocharacterized by lower Mn and Cu concentrations relative to CT and BT. Principal Component Analysisclearly discriminated BT from CT and MT (PC1, 66.97%), while PC2 clearly discriminated CT from BTand MT (33.03%). Most correlative relationships were associated with Se in the BT group and Cu in theMT group. The results of this study reveal differences between the AOS parameters and the essentialtrace elements between the analyzed groups. The observed dysregulations show that oxidative stresscould have an important role in disrupting brain homeostasis and its presence in the pathogenesis ofbenign and malignant brain tumors

Supplementary data for the article: Prokić, M. D.; Borković-Mitić, S. S.; Krizmanić, I. I.; Mutić, J. J.; Trifković, J. Đ.; Gavrić, J. P.; Despotović, S. G.; Gavrilović, B. R.; Radovanović, T. B.; Pavlović, S. Z.; et al. Bioaccumulation and Effects of Metals on Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity Parameters in the Frogs from the Pelophylax Esculentus Complex. Ecotoxicology 2016, 25 (8), 1531–1542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1707-x

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1707-x]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2340

Supplementary data for the article: Borković-Mitić, S. S.; Prokić, M. D.; Krizmanić, I. I.; Mutić, J.; Trifković, J.; Gavrić, J.; Despotović, S. G.; Gavrilović, B. R.; Radovanović, T. B.; Pavlović, S. Z.; et al. Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Metal Accumulation in Marsh Frog (Pelophylax Ridibundus). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2016, 23 (10), 9649–9659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6194-3

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6194-3]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1941

Supplementary data for the article: Đurašević, S.; Stojković, M.; Sopta, J.; Pavlović, S.; Borković-Mitić, S.; Ivanović, A.; Jasnić, N.; Tosti, T.; Đurović, S.; Đorđević, J.; Todorović, Z. The Effects of Meldonium on the Acute Ischemia/Reperfusion Liver Injury in Rats. Sci Rep 2021, 11 (1), 1305. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80011-y.

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80011-y]Related to published version: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4458

Supplementary data for article : Prokic, M. D.; Borkovic-Mitic, S. S.; Krizmanic, I. I.; Mutić, J.; Gavric, J. P.; Despotovic, S. G.; Gavrilović, B. R.; Radovanovic, T. B.; Pavlovic, S. Z.; Saicic, Z. S. Oxidative Stress Parameters in Two Pelophylax Esculentus Complex Frogs during Pre- and Post-Hibernation: Arousal vs Heavy Metals. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. C: Toxicology and Pharmacology 2017, 202, 19–25.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.07.00

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.07.00]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2548

Supplementary data for the article: Prokić, M. D.; Borković-Mitić, S. S.; Krizmanić, I. I.; Mutić, J. J.; Trifković, J. Đ.; Gavrić, J. P.; Despotović, S. G.; Gavrilović, B. R.; Radovanović, T. B.; Pavlović, S. Z.; et al. Bioaccumulation and Effects of Metals on Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity Parameters in the Frogs from the Pelophylax Esculentus Complex. Ecotoxicology 2016, 25 (8), 1531–1542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1707-x

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1707-x]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2340

Supplementary data for the article: Borković-Mitić, S. S.; Prokić, M. D.; Krizmanić, I. I.; Mutić, J.; Trifković, J.; Gavrić, J.; Despotović, S. G.; Gavrilović, B. R.; Radovanović, T. B.; Pavlović, S. Z.; et al. Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Metal Accumulation in Marsh Frog (Pelophylax Ridibundus). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2016, 23 (10), 9649–9659. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6194-3

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6194-3]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1941