Zinc Deficiency, Plasma Fatty Acid Profile and Desaturase Activities in Hemodialysis Patients: Is Supplementation Necessary?

Background: Desaturation and elongation are critical processes in endogenous metabolic fatty acid pathways. Zinc (Zn) is a cofactor for desaturases and elongases enzymes. There is limited evidence regarding the relationships between biomarkers of Zn status, nutritional intake, plasma phospholipid fatty acid profile and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Objective: To examine the relationships between dietary and serum levels of Zn and Cu/Zn ratio and to explore associations of these micronutrients with PUFA profile and estimated desaturase and elongase enzyme activities in serum phospholipids among HD patients. Methods: This study included 40 adult patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Repeated 24-h recalls were applied for dietary intake assessment. Serum concentration of Zn and Cu were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and fatty acid composition by gas-liquid chromatography. Desaturase and elongase activities were calculated from product-precursor fatty acid ratios. Results: Inadequate dietary Zn intake was found in 55% of HD patients. They all had serum Zn concentration below the reference value of 60 μg/dL (mean 38.8 ± 7.72 μg/dL). Adequate zinc intake was accompanied with significantly higher intake of energy, total fats, SFA, MUFA and proteins. There was no correlation between Zn serum status and Zn intake estimates. Serum Cu/Zn ratio was high, (2.76 ± 0.68), directly and significantly associated with HD period, CRP, BMI, VFA, and inversely with Kt/V, albumin, iron, and iPTH. The n-6/n-3 ratio in plasma phospholipids was elevated (12.25 ± 3.45) and patients with inadequate Zn intake had lower n-3 PUFA intake and status compared to those with adequate intake. Serum Zn concentrations were inversely correlated with linoleic/dihomo-γ-linolenic acid ratio (LA/DGLA) (p = 0.037), related to D6-desaturase activity (p = 0.033) and directly with DGLA relative abundances (p = 0.024). Cu status was inversely associated with EPA level (p = 0.03) and estimates of elongase activity (p = 0.001). Furthermore, positive relationship was found between the Cu/Zn ratio and determined elongase value (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Findings of this study underpin the high prevalence of Zn deficiency and inadequate n-3 PUFA intake and status among subjects undergoing HD. The results obtained indicate that the assessment of Zn status should be a standard parameter of nutritional status screening in HD patients while emphasizing the importance of Cu/Zn determination. Although further research is warranted, Zn and-n-3 PUFA supplementation in HD patients might be beneficial for the prevention and attenuation of adverse health outcomes

Urban deciduous tree leaves as biomonitors of trace element (As, V and Cd) atmospheric pollution in Belgrade, Serbia

Leaves of common deciduous trees: horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and linden (Tilia spp.) from three parks within the urban area of Belgrade were studied as biomonitors of trace element (As, V, and Cd) atmospheric pollution. The May–September trace element accumulation in the leaves, and their temporal trends, were assayed in a multi-year period (2002–2006). Significant accumulation in the leaves was evident for As and V, but not so regularly for Cd. Slightly decreasing temporal trends of V and As ac-cumulated in the leaf tissues were observed over the years. During the time span, the concentrations of Cd remained approximately on the same level, except in May 2002 and September 2005, when a rapid increase was observed. The May–September accumulations of As and V were higher in horse chestnut than in linden, although both may be used as biomonitors for these elements, and optionally for Cd in conditions of its high atmospheric loadings

Leaching of chromium from chromium contaminated soil: Speciation study and geochemical modeling

Distribution of chromium between soil and leachate was monitored. A natural process of percolating rainwater through the soil was simulated in the laboratory conditions and studied with column leaching extraction. Migration of chromium in the soil is conditioned by the level of chromium soil contamination, the soil organic matter content, and rainwater acidity. Chromium (III) and chromium(VI) were determined by spectrophotometric method with diphenilcarbazide in acidic media. Comparing the results of chromium speciation in leachate obtained by experimental model systems and geochemical modelling calculations using Visual MINTEQ model, a correlation was observed regarding the influence of the tested parameters. Leachate solutions showed that the concentration of Cr depended on the organic matter content. The influence of pH and soil organic matter content is in compliance after its definition through experimental and theoretical way. The computer model - Stockholm Humic Model used to evaluate the leaching results corresponded rather well with the measured values

Ishrana bolesnika sa novodijagnostikovanim rakom pluća

Introduction/Objective Although smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer (LC), studies have shown that diet could also play an important role. The objective of this study was to analyze dietary intake of newly diagnosed LC patients and to compare with sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Methods Sixty-nine non-treated LC patients (50 male, 19 female, aged 46-80 years), and 70 healthy controls (50 male, 20 female, aged 47-76 years) filled out a validated food frequency questionnaire in the presence of a trained nutritionist. Nutrient intake was calculated using the Serbian Food Composition Database. Results Similar energy intake was reported by both groups. However, the controls had significantly higher intake of total fats, saturated, monounsaturated, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and lower intake of carbohydrates and n-6 PUFAs. Patients with LC reported markedly lower intake of milk and dairy products, eggs, seafood, vegetables, and fruits, and higher intake of grains and grain products. Conclusion Patients with LC had significantly different dietary intake of most nutrients compared to healthy participants, suggesting that changes in dietary patterns could contribute to prevention of LC development.Uvod/Cilj Iako je pušenje vodeći faktor rizika za rak pluća (RP), studije pokazuju da i način ishrane igra važnu ulogu. Cilj ove studije je da se analiza ishrana kod bolesnika sa novodijagnostikovanim RP i da se uporedi sa zdravom populacijom istog pola i godina starosti. Metode Šezdeset devet bolesnika sa novootkrivenim RP (50 muškaraca, 19 žena, starosti 46-80 godina) i 70 zdravih ispitanika (50 muškaraca, 20 žena, starosti 47-76 godina) popunilo je u prisustvu lekara upitnik o učestalosti kon- zumiranja namirnica. Nutritivni unos je računat pomoću Srpske baze podataka o sastavu namirnica. Rezultati Obe grupe su imale sličan unos energije, ali je u kontrolnoj grupi zabeležen veći unos masti, zasićenih, mononezasićenih i n-3 polinezasićenih masnih kiselina (PNMK), a niži unos ugljenih hidrata i n-6 PNMK. Grupa bolesnika je imala značajno niži unos mleka i mlečnih proizvoda, jaja, morskih plodova, voća i povrća, a veći unos žitarica i proizvoda od brašna. Zaključak Bolesnici sa RP imali su značajno drugačiji način ishrane od zdravih ispitanika, što sugeriše da promene u načinu ishrane mogu da doprinesu prevenciji nastanka kancera pluća

Highly Sensitive Dual Self-Referencing Temperature Readout from the Mn4+/Ho3+ Binary Luminescence Thermometry Probe

The binary luminescence thermometry probe is prepared from Y2O3:Ho3+ and Mg2TiO4:Mn4+ powders. This probe facilitates self-referencing temperature readouts with excellent repeatability from both emission intensity ratio and excited state lifetimes. The ratio of intensities of Mn4+ deep red emission from 2E, 4T2→4A2 electronic transitions, and Ho3+ green emission from 5F4,5S2 →5I8 electronic transitions provides temperature measurements over the room temperature to 100 °C temperature range with a superior relative sensitivity of 4.6% °C−1 and temperature resolution of 0.1 °C. Over the same temperature range, the temperature readout from the Mn4+ emission lifetime offers measurements with relative sensitivity better than 0.5% °C−1 and better than 0.2 °C in resolution. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Ispitivanje zagađenosti vazduha u Beogradu elementima u tragovima (As, V, Cd) iz listova listopadnog drveća

Leaves of common deciduous trees: horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and linden (Tilia spp.) from three parks within the urban area of Belgrade were studied as biomonitors of trace element (As, V, and Cd) atmospheric pollution. The May-September trace element accumulation in the leaves, and their temporal trends, were assayed in a multi-year period (2002-2006). Significant accumulation in the leaves was evident for As and V, but not so regularly for Cd. Slightly decreasing temporal trends of V and As accumulated in the leaf tissues were observed over the years. During the time span, the concentrations of Cd remained approximately on the same level, except in May 2002 and September 2005, when a rapid increase was observed. The May-September accumulations of As and V were higher in horse chestnut than in linden, although both may be used as biomonitors for these elements, and optionally for Cd in conditions of its high atmospheric loadings.Jedna od posledica intenzivnog ekonomskog i industrijskog razvoja je povećana emisija zagađujućih supstancija u atmosferu. Drveće, posebno u urbanim sredinama, veoma je značajno sa aspekta prečišćavanja vazduha; pored toga, uočeno je da postoji korelacija između koncentracije pojedinih zagađujućih materija u vazduhu i u lišću drveća, što je iskorišćeno za biomonitoring kvaliteta vazduha. U ovom radu je ispitivana mogućnost biomonitoringa elemenata u tragovima u vazduhu pomoću dve vrste listopadnog drveća, divljeg kestena (Aesculus hippocastanum) i lipe (Tilia spp.), koje su veoma zastupljene u Beogradu. Uzorci su sakupljani na početku vegetacionog perioda, u maju, kao i na kraju vegetacionog perioda, u septembru, tokom pet godina, od 2002. do 2006. godine. U eksperimentalnom delu izvršena je analiza sadržaja elemenata u tragovima (arsen, vanadijum, kadmijum) u listovima navedenih vrsta drveća sakupljenim sa tri lokacije u Beogradu (Karađorđev park, Studentski park i Botanička bašta), koje su odabrane zbog intenzivnog saobraćaja. Poređenjem dobijenih vrednosti sa koncentracijama ispitivanih elemenata u suspendovanim česticama u vazduhu određen je stepen akumulacije i zaključeno je da se ispitivane vrste mogu koristiti za biomonitoring kvaliteta vazduha, odnosno njegove zagađenosti ispitivanim elementima u tragovima, pri čemu je divlji kesten imao bolje akumulativne sposobnosti

Effects of genistein on gonadotropic cells in immature female rats

The effects of genistein on pituitary gonadotropic cells of immature female rats were examined and compared to actions of the synthetic estrogen, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol. Immature female rats received 50 mg/kg/bw of genistein in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) subcutaneously (s.c.) daily for 3 days at 18, 19 and 20 days of age. A second group was injected with 1 mu g/kg of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol in olive oil in the same schedule. The genistein control group received DMSO only, while 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol controls were given sterile olive oil only. Changes in cell number per mm(2), cell volume and volume density of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) immunolabeled cells were evaluated by morphometry and stereology. Genistein induced significant increases in the number of FSH cells (by 21%) and LH cells (by 20%) per mm(2) compared to corresponding controls. Volumes of FSH and LH cells were significantly increased by 19.7% and 20% and their volume densities by 20% and 20.2%, respectively. Estradiol markedly affected gonadotropes in the same manner, but to a greater extent. It can be concluded that genistein acted as an estrogenic agonist in the pituitaries of immature female rats, and as such, stimulated gonadotropic cells. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.Ministry for Education and Science of Serbia [173009

Effects of genistein on gonadotropic cells in immature female rats

The effects of genistein on pituitary gonadotropic cells of immature female rats were examined and compared to actions of the synthetic estrogen, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol. Immature female rats received 50 mg/kg/bw of genistein in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) subcutaneously (s.c.) daily for 3 days at 18, 19 and 20 days of age. A second group was injected with 1 mu g/kg of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol in olive oil in the same schedule. The genistein control group received DMSO only, while 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol controls were given sterile olive oil only. Changes in cell number per mm(2), cell volume and volume density of follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) immunolabeled cells were evaluated by morphometry and stereology. Genistein induced significant increases in the number of FSH cells (by 21%) and LH cells (by 20%) per mm(2) compared to corresponding controls. Volumes of FSH and LH cells were significantly increased by 19.7% and 20% and their volume densities by 20% and 20.2%, respectively. Estradiol markedly affected gonadotropes in the same manner, but to a greater extent. It can be concluded that genistein acted as an estrogenic agonist in the pituitaries of immature female rats, and as such, stimulated gonadotropic cells. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.Ministry for Education and Science of Serbia [173009

Metabolically healthy obesity: is there a link with polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and status?

The aim of this study was to compare dietary intake and status of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids metabolically healthy and unhealthy, and obese and nonobese persons. Metabolic health status in 171 participants was defined according to criteria for metabolic syndrome. Obese and nonobese metabolically unhealthy persons (MUHO and MUHNO) had higher energy intake of n-6 PUFA (7.82 +/- 1.03 and 7.49 +/- 0.86) and lower intake of n-3 PUFA (0.60 +/- 0.12 and 0.62 +/- 0.11) compared to obese and nonobese metabolically healthy persons (MHO and MHNO) (5.92 +/- 0.63 and 5.72 +/- 0.67; 1.20 +/- 0.07 and 1.22 +/- 0.09, respectively) and a higher n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. The plasma level of n-6 PUFA was lower in the MUHO and MUHNO groups (38.49 +/- 3.71 and 38.53 +/- 2.19) compared to MHNO (40.90 +/- 2.43), while n-3 PUFA status was lower in obese than in nonobese persons (3.58 +/- 0.79 and 3.50 +/- 1.02 vs. 4.21 +/- 0.80 and 4.06 +/- 1.15). The MHO group had a higher eicosapentaenoic/arachidonic acid ratio and estimated desaturase (SCD16, D6D) and elongase activity in plasma phospholipids compared to MHNO. The low intake of n-3 PUFA is directly associated with metabolic risk factors. These results indicated that obesity is closely associated with low levels of n-3 PUFA in plasma phospholipids, suggesting that dietary modifications including n-3 PUFA supplementation appear to be suitable therapeutic strategy in obese persons