Implications of Sediment Geochemistry and Diet Habits in Fish Metal Levels and Human Health Risk

In this study the concentration of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in muscle and liver tissues was compared between four estuarine fish species (Centropomus parallelus, Genidens genidens, Diapterus rhombeus, and Mugil liza) to assess contamination levels and the influence of eating habits on metal distribution and human health risk by consumption. In general, liver tissue showed higher metal contents than muscle. Between metals, Fe and Zn contents were relatively higher for both tissues in all analyzed populations. Based on the observations, the variability of metal levels between species is associated with their transfer from the contaminated sediments, where diet habits associated with the substrate result in higher metal accumulation in fish, exerting great influence than bioaccumulation by trophic level. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQ) and the total target hazard quotients (TTHQ), below 1 for all metals on muscle tissues, are suggested the absence of health hazard for the human population. However, high levels of Pb and Zn in liver tissue may endanger predators

Concentrations of chemical elements in liver and muscle of demersal fish of Santos - Cubatão estuarine system (SP) : spatial and temporal aspects

Orientador: Wanilson Luiz SilvaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de GeociênciasResumo: A região de Cubatão (SP) abriga o maior polo industrial da América Latina e nos anos de 1980 ficou internacionalmente conhecida como um dos lugares mais seriamente poluídos do planeta por consequência de atividades industriais que ocasionaram grandes perturbações ambientais locais. Desde então, a contaminação da biota do sistema estuarino de Santos-Cubatão vem sendo monitorada e tem apresentado níveis elevados de elementos químicos nos organismos. Entretanto, ainda não foram realizados estudos que levem em consideração amostragens sazonais, que poderiam refletir as consequências das variações físico-químicas do ambiente na transferência de elementos químicos para a biota. No presente estudo, concentrações de As, Se e metais (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn) foram determinadas em tecidos hepático e muscular de quatro espécies de peixes demersais do sistema estuarino em foco. No inverno/2010 e verão/2011, exemplares de Diapterus rhombeus, Genidens genidens, Centropomus parallelus e Mugil Liza foram coletados nos rios Morrão, Casqueiro e Cubatão. As amostras foram liofilizadas e os elementos químicos extraídos por digestão ácida com posterior análise por ICP-MS. Os resultados foram comparados ao LMT (limite máximo de tolerância) determinado pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Concentrações de As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se e Zn foram, em geral, acima do LMT estabelecido pela legislação brasileira, e o tecido hepático apresentou concentrações químicas muito superiores às registradas no tecido muscular. Mugil Liza foi a espécie que acumulou mais elementos químicos em ambos os tecidos e é a melhor bioindicadora da área de estudo. As associações com o substrato e o hábito alimentar mostraram-se fatores decisivos na absorção de elementos químicos pelos organismos. Variabilidades sazonais foram observadas para as concentrações de Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn nos tecidos dos organismos analisados. Apesar de o rio Morrão ser considerado um dos cenários mais impactados do sistema estuarino de Santos-Cubatão, a biodisponibilidade de elementos químicos naquele ambiente não parece diferente de ambientes historicamente menos impactados, como os rios Casqueiro e CubatãoAbstract: The city of Cubatão (SP) holds the largest industrial center in Latin America. During the 1980s, this region became internationally known as one of the most polluted cities in the world. This was a result of local industrial activities that caused large local environmental disturbances. Since then, biota contamination along the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system has been monitored, and high levels of contamination amongst organisms have been found. Environmental monitoring of the biota, taking into account the importance of seasonal variability, has not been considered. Concentrations of As, Se and metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in liver and muscle tissue of four species of demersal fishes of the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system. Specimens of Diapterus rhombeus, Genidens genidens, Centropomus parallelus and Mugil Liza were collected in summer and winter, in the Morrão, Casqueiro and Cubatão rivers. The samples were freeze-dried, underwent acid digestion and subsequently were analyzed using an ICP-MS. The results were compared to the LMT (maximum allowable) guidelines determined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn were generally above the LMT, as established by Brazilian legislation. Specific organs were analyzed and compared, for instance, liver tissue had contaminant concentrations much higher than those recorded in the muscle tissue. Mugil Liza was the species that accumulated more chemical elements in both tissues. The association with the substrate and eating habits proved to be decisive factors in the absorption of specific contaminants by the organisms. Seasonal variability was observed for concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the tissues of organisms analyzed. Although the Morrão river is considered one of the scenarios most impacted of the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system, the bioavailability of specific chemical pollutants in this work does not support this scenario, as indicated by the results found in the less impacted environments, such as Cubatão and Casqueiro riversMestradoGeologia e Recursos NaturaisMestre em Geociência

Metabolomic profiles and microbiota of GDM offspring: The key for future perspective?

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), or any degree of glucose intolerance recognized for the first time during pregnancy, is one of the diseases that most frequently aggravates the course of gestation. Missed or late diagnosis and inadequate treatment are associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity, with possible short- and long-term repercussions. Estimates on the prevalence of GDM are alarming and increasing by about 30% in the last 10-20 years. In addition, there is the negative influence of the SARS-CoV-2 emergency on the glycemic control of pregnant women, making the matter increasingly topical. To date, knowledge on the metabolic maturation of newborns is still incomplete. However, in light of the considerable progress of the theory of "developmental origins of health and disease," the relevant role of the intrauterine environment cannot be overlooked. In fact, due to the high plasticity of the early stages of development, some detrimental metabolic alterations during fetal growth, including maternal hyperglycemia, are associated with a higher incidence of chronic diseases in adult life. In this context, metabolomic analysis which allows to obtain a detailed phenotypic portrait through the dynamic detection of all metabolites in cells, tissues and different biological fluids could be very useful for the early diagnosis and prevention of complications. Indeed, if the diagnostic timing is optimized through the identification of specific metabolites, the detailed understanding of the altered metabolic pathway could also allow better management and more careful monitoring, also from a nutritional profile, of the more fragile children. In this context, a further contribution derives from the analysis of the intestinal microbiota, the main responsible for the fecal metabolome, given its alteration in pregnancies complicated by GDM and the possibility of transmission to offspring. The purpose of this review is to analyze the available data regarding the alterations in the metabolomic profile and microbiota of the offspring of mothers with GDM in order to highlight future prospects for reducing GDM-related complications in children of mothers affected by this disorder

Nutritional composition of raw and fried big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) from Trasimeno lake

The aim of this research was to investigate the nutritional composition of raw and fried big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) from Trasimeno Lake. Four hundred big-scale sand smelts were caught with nets and analysed immediately. We created a total of 20 batches with 20 whole fish in each batch. Ten batches were analysed as raw samples, while the other 10 batches were analysed after being fried in sunflower oil at a temperature of 190 °C for 3 min (deep fat frying). The pH, proximate composition, fatty acid profile, oxidative stability and nutritional indexes of both groups were assessed. As expected, cooking strongly influenced the characteristics of the meat, mainly in terms of lipids, which were seven times greater in the fried product due to the oil. Frying also affected the fatty acid profile of the meat because oil absorption caused a significant increase in oleic and linoleic acids. Furthermore, we found a slight reduction in long chain n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids). Frying increased oxidative processes and decreased the nutritional value of sand smelt. The obtained results can be considered preliminary because the effects of the fishing season and different physiological phases of sand smelt require further analytical confirmation.Highlights The aim of the research was to investigate the nutritional composition of raw and fried big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) from Trasimeno Lake. The fried big-scale sand smelt had a meat lipids content 7-times greater than the control, due to the oil adsorbition. Frying increased oxidative processes and decreased the nutritional value of big-scale sand smelt

Automated conflict resolution between multiple clinical pathways:A technology report

Background The number of people in the UK with three or more long-term conditions continues to grow and the management of patients with co-morbidities is complex. In treating patients with multimorbidities, a fundamental problem is understanding and detecting points of conflict between different guidelines which to date has relied on individual clinicians collating disparate information. Objective We will develop a framework for modelling a diverse set of care pathways, and investigate how conflicts can be detected and resolved automatically. We will use this knowledge to develop a software tool for use by clinicians that can map guidelines, highlight root causes of conflict between these guidelines and suggest ways they might be resolved. Method Our work consists of three phases. First, we will accurately model clinical pathways for six of the most common chronic diseases; second, we will automatically identify and detect sources of conflict across the pathways and how they might be resolved. Third, we will present a case study to prove the validity of our approach using a team of clinicians to detect and resolve the conflicts in the treatment of a fictional patient with multiple common morbidities and compare their findings and recommendations with those derived automatically using our novel software. Discussion This paper describes the development of an important software-based method for identifying a conflict between clinical guidelines. Our findings will support clinicians treating patients with multimorbidity in both primary and secondary care settings

Metabolomics in Pediatric Neuropsychiatry

Metabolomics is one of the newest “omics” sciences that is being applied to date to investigate several aspects of pathologies and medical topics in general. It provides a snapshot of the metabolic state of an individual by the detection of metabolites in several biological fluids, such as saliva, blood and sweat. Our research group has more than a decade of experience in this field and we ourselves applied this technology to investigate, for instance, every aspect of breast milk, different neonatal diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this paper, which is adapted from the lecture given by Professor Fanos at the 5th edition of the Galatia Congress (2021), we discuss the usefulness of metabolomics in the investigation of paediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. We are convinced that this technique, in the future, will provide all the answer to the infinite questions concerning the paediatric brain and its disorders, in order to help the clinicians and families of these children to give the best life possible to these little patients.</em

Metabolomics in Pediatric Neuropsychiatry

Metabolomics is one of the newest "omics" sciences that is being applied to date to investigate several aspects of pathologies and medical topics in general. It provides a snapshot of the metabolic state of an individual by the detection of metabolites in several biological fluids, such as saliva, blood and sweat. Our research group has more than a decade of experience in this field and we ourselves applied this technology to investigate, for instance, every aspect of breast milk, different neonatal diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this paper, which is adapted from the lecture given by Professor Fanos at the 5th edition of the Galatia Congress (2021), we discuss the usefulness of metabolomics in the investigation of paediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. We are convinced that this technique, in the future, will provide all the answer to the infinite questions concerning the paediatric brain and its disorders, in order to help the clinicians and families of these children to give the best life possible to these little patients

Impact of ozone and UV irradiation sanitation treatments on the survival of Salmonella and the physical–chemical characteristics of hen eggs

Summary: Salmonella is the second main cause of foodborne illness in poultry production. It is one of the most problematic zoonoses in terms of public health worldwide because of the difficulty in controlling it and its significant morbidity and mortality rates. Recent surveys have shown that small flocks of laying hens have the same or higher prevalence of salmonellosis than larger flocks, mainly due to a lack of control actions, that is, the control of mice and wild animals, employees, and poor management practices. In this regard, different physical and chemical procedures have proven efficacious for reducing external and/or internal Salmonella contamination. This research evaluated the effect of ozone and UV-C rays on Salmonella growth and hen egg quality. Microbiological evaluation was performed on 120 eggs: negative control (C−), eggs not contaminated with Salmonella; positive control (C+), eggs contaminated; contaminated ozonate-treated (O, 600 mg/h for 2 h); and contaminated UV-C–irradiated (ʎ, 254 nm for 15 s) eggs. Moreover, 30 eggs were used (10/group) for the quality assessments of the C, O, and UV-C groups. A 2 log10 CFU/g reduction in Salmonella on contaminated eggs was found in the UV-C group compared with the C+ and O groups. Compared with UV-C treatment, ozonization reduced the amount of yolk tocols and carotenoids (by 2 times). The lipid oxidative status decreased (−1.5 times), similar to the cholesterol level (−28.5%), whereas the amount of cholesterol and its oxidized products increased (+82.1%) in the O group compared with the C group. UV-C irradiation is an effective strategy to reduce Salmonella contamination in eggs without negatively affecting the quality. Therefore, UV treatments remain among the more promising procedures