ABSTRACT This document represents the final report of discussions and conclusions arising from th... more ABSTRACT This document represents the final report of discussions and conclusions arising from the workshop on Developments in Science and Technology Relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in Spiez, Switzerland in February 2012.
More than 100,000 Iranian veterans and civilians still suffer from various long-term complication... more More than 100,000 Iranian veterans and civilians still suffer from various long-term complications due to their exposure to sulfur mustard (SM) during the Iran-Iraq war in 1983-88. The aim of the study was to investigate DNA damage of SM in veterans who were exposed to SM, 23-27 years prior to this study. Blood samples were obtained from the veterans and healthy volunteers as negative controls. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples and DNA breaks were measured using single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions (comet assay). Single cells were analyzed with "Tri Tek Comet Score version 1.5" software and DNA break was measured based on the percentage of tail DNA alone, or in the presence of H2O2 (25 μM) as a positive control. A total of 25 SM exposed male veterans and 25 male healthy volunteers with similar ages (44.66 ± 6.2 and 42.12 ± 5.75 years, respectively) were studied. Percentage of the lymphocyte DNA damage was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the SM-exposed individuals than in the controls (6.47 ± 0.52 and 1.31 ± 0.35, respectively). Percentages of DNA damage in the different age groups of 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54 years in SM-exposed veterans (5.48 ± 0.17, 6.7 3 ± 1.58, 6.42 ± 0.22, and 7.27 ± 0.38, respectively) were all significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the controls (1.18 ± 0.25, 1.53 ± 0.22, 1.27 ± 0.20, and 1.42 ± 0.10, respectively). The lymphocytes incubated with H2O2 had much higher DNA damage as expected. The average of tail DNA is 42.12 ± 2.75% for control cells + H2O2 and 18.48 ± 2.14% for patients cells + H2O2; P < 0.001. SM exposure of the veterans revealed DNA damage as judged by the comet assay.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences the Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Jan 3, 2013
Background:The chemical contamination of water is a major concern for the environmental and healt... more Background:The chemical contamination of water is a major concern for the environmental and health authorities globally. Some anions present in the water are required for human health, but some of them are harmful. Free cyanide and nitrate are amongst the toxic agents in the aquatic environment. Cyanide is highly toxic for human beings. Industrial plants could be attributed to a major source of these toxic agents. Therefore, cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the drinking and irrigation water wells in the high industrial plants were evaluated.Materials and Methods:The samples (57) were taken from drinking and irrigation water wells as well as from a wastewater refinery in north of Mashhad in three stages – March 2009, June 2010, and July 2010. Determination of cyanide and nitrate were performed by a spectrophotometer using commercially available kits according to the manufacturer's protocols.Results:Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the drinking water samples of the three stages were 0.0050 ± 0.0007, 0.0070 ± 0.0018, 0.0008 ± 0.0014 mg/L and 6.50 ± 2.80, 7.20 ± 1.80, 7.50 ± 1.90 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide mean concentration during March, June, and July was significant (P = 0.001), whereas nitrate mean concentration was not (P = 0.5). Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the irrigation water samples of the three stages were 0.0140 ± 0.0130, 0.0077 ± 0.0025, 0.0087 ± 0.0047 mg/L and 12.37 ± 8.12, 8.04 ± 3.99, 8.40 ± 2.60 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide (P = 0.754) and nitrate (P = 0.705) concentrations were not significant during three occasions. Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the wastewaters of the three stages were 0.1020 ± 0.033, 0.1180 ± 0.033, 0.1200 ± 0.035 mg/L and 1633.80 ± 40.74, 279.00 ± 152.17, 298.40 ± 304.74 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide (P = 0.731) and nitrate (P = 0.187) concentration in wastewaters were not significant during different months.Conclusion:Although nitrate and cyanide concentrations in the drinking and irrigation water were within the standard range (0.07 mg/L for cyanide and 50 mg/L for nitrate) and was not a health problem at the time of our study, regular estimation of the toxic chemicals due to the development of industrial plants in this area is recommended.
Lead poisoning is a historic universal disease. Acute or chronic lead exposure may cause reversib... more Lead poisoning is a historic universal disease. Acute or chronic lead exposure may cause reversible or even permanent damages in human beings. Environmental lead exposure is a global health concern in children. Occupational lead poisoning is still a health issue, particularly in developing countries. During the last decades, new methods and medications have been advocated for the prevention and treatment of lead poisoning. This review deals mainly with recent developments in the management of lead poisoning. Sources of lead exposure are introduced, and methods for the primary prevention of lead poisoning are discussed. Details for the screening of adults and children are also explained to serve as a practical guideline for the secondary prevention. Standard chelation therapy in different groups and up-to-date less toxic new medications for the treatment of lead poisoning are finally discussed. Our published clinical research on the therapeutic effects of garlic tablets in mild to moderate occupational lead poisoning will also be discussed.
Organophosphorus compounds have been used as pesticides and as chemical warfare nerve agents. The... more Organophosphorus compounds have been used as pesticides and as chemical warfare nerve agents. The mechanism of toxicity of organophosphorus compounds is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which results in accumulation of acetylcholine and the continued stimulation of acetylcholine receptors. Therefore, they are also called anticholinesterase agents. Organophosphorus pesticides have largely been used worldwide, and poisoning by these agents, particularly in developing countries, is a serious health problem. Organophosphorus nerve agents were used by Iraqi army against Iranian combatants and even civilian population in 1983 - 1988. They were also used for chemical terrorism in Japan in 1994 - 1995. Their use is still a constant threat to the population. Therefore, medical and health professionals should be aware and learn more about the toxicology and proper management of organophosphorus poisoning. Determination of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity in blood remains a mainstay for the fast initial screening of organophosphorus compounds but lacks sensitivity and specificity. Quantitative analysis of organophosphorus compounds and their degradation products in plasma and urine by mass spectrometric methods may prove exposure but is expensive and is limited to specialized laboratories. However, history of exposure to organophosphorous compounds and clinical manifestations of a cholinergic syndrome are sufficient for management of the affected patients. The standard management of poisoning with organophosphorous compounds consists of decontamination, and injection of atropine sulfate with an oxime. Recent advances on treatment of organophosphorus pesticides poisoning revealed that blood alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate and also magnesium sulfate as adjunctive therapies are promising. Patients who receive prompt proper treatment usually recover from acute toxicity but may suffer from neurologic complications.
Patients with long-term complications of sulfur mustard (SM) poisoning are often less able to und... more Patients with long-term complications of sulfur mustard (SM) poisoning are often less able to undertake optimum levels of physical activity and adequately control their dietary intake. The aim of present study was to investigate the dietary intake of patients with SM poisoning in comparison to a control group Methods: The study was undertaken on 55 Iranian male veterans, who had > 25% disabilities due to long-term complications of SM poisoning and 55 men age-matched healthy subjects. A previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for measuring dietary macro/micro nutrient intake for both groups; and the results were analysed using Dietplan6 software. Analysis of macro/micro nutrients in dietary intakes of the patients versus the controls showed a significantly lower intake of several nutrients including selenium and carbohydrate. On the other hand, the dietary intake of trans-fatty acids and iodine were significantly higher in these patients. Long-term complic...
To study narcotic drug abuse, particularly opiate addiction, and other risk factors in patients w... more To study narcotic drug abuse, particularly opiate addiction, and other risk factors in patients with acute cholecystitis. In this prospective cross sectional study, variables such as age, gender, weight, narcotics drug abuse, hormone taking, number of pregnancies, and coexistent disease(s) were recorded in pre-designed forms for 100 consecutive patients who underwent operation for acute cholecystitis between October 2001 and June 2005 in Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand, Iran. Relevant statistical tests were applied, using SPSS version 13.0. From the studied patients (62 females, 38 males) with a mean+/-SD of 60.8+/-15.9 years, 66 were underweight, 23 were overweight, and only 11 patients had normal weight. Most of the patients (76) had calculous cholecystitis, of which 50 (65.8%) were female, and 26 (34.2%), were male. Seven females (11%), and 14 males (37%) revealed jaundice (p<0.002). Most (72%) had a history of narcotics abuse, of which 69 (95.8%) abused opiates constantly, and 3 ...
Ursolic acid (UA) is plentifully present in fruits, foods, and medicinal plants, and has anti-can... more Ursolic acid (UA) is plentifully present in fruits, foods, and medicinal plants, and has anti-cancer activity on many cancer cell lines. However, the effects of UA on some melanoma cells and the mechanisms of action have not been reported. The effect of UA on isolated human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines has been investigated using the MTT assay, and cell death was determined using Annexin-V/PI staining. To explore whether the activation of caspases was required for apoptosis induction, cells were treated with pan-caspase inhibitor and UA. Changes in apoptosis pattern were analyzed by flow cytometry. Activation of caspases was detected by western blot analysis. A significant concentration-dependent suppression of cell proliferation was seen after 24 and 48 h in the presence of UA. Apoptosis was considerably increased by UA, indicated by enhancement of an Annexin-V positive population and a sub-G1 peak. UA induced proteolytic processing of caspase-3. The results confirm the anti-cancer properties of UA on cultured human melanoma cells, possibly mediated through the induction of apoptosis following activation of caspases.
Dietary supplements have been used for decades for enhancing muscle growth. The harm caused by so... more Dietary supplements have been used for decades for enhancing muscle growth. The harm caused by some of these products is well documented. We investigated and reported toxic hepatitis in 20 male athletes following self-prescribing of a number of dietary supplements which are lesser known. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; ages ranged from 24 to 32 with a mean of 28 years. They had taken three kinds of supplements for 1 year including testosterone optimizer agent T Bomb II, a creatine supplement Phosphagen and an amino acid based supplement Cell-Tech. Based on the history, clinical examination, and laboratory findings the cases were diagnosed as toxic hepatitis. After discontinuation of taking the supplements, clinical recovery and improvement of liver function tests were achieved within 30 days. Causality assessment with the CIOMS (Council for International Organization Medical Sciences) scale showed a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;possible&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; grade of causality (+5 points) for these supplements. It can be concluded that these newer anabolic supplements may induce toxic hepatitis. Since the health risks of them may be severe, the use of these kinds of dietary supplements should be discouraged.
Dental amalgam is the major source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population. Denta... more Dental amalgam is the major source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population. Dental amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury, which is a toxic element. Since children are more at risk for mercury toxicity, we aimed to study prospectively the effects of amalgam filling on urinary mercury excretion in 5- to 7-year-old children. Children admitted to the Pedodontics Department with no previous amalgam filling, and in a good state of health with one or more carious posterior teeth, were selected. All fillings were placed in one session for each child using Sina (Iran) amalgam powder and Degussa (Germany) mercury, which were mixed by an automated electric amalgamator (Dentomate 3, Germany). Urinary mercury concentrations were estimated before and 9-12 days after amalgam filling by atomic absorption using the mercuric hydride system. Forty-three children (20 male, 23 female) aged 5.95+/-0.92 years and weighing 19.09+/-3.10 kg were studied. Urinary mercury concentrations before and after amalgam filling were 3.83+/-2.45 and 5.14+/-3.14 microg/L, respectively (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant correlations between the urinary mercury concentrations and any other variables, including the number and surfaces of filled teeth, weight, age, and sex. Although there were highly significant increases in urinary mercury concentrations after amalgam filling, no significant correlation was found between the urinary mercury concentration and the amounts of filled amalgam. Additional investigation is required concerning the effects of mercury release from amalgam.
Sulfur mustard is an alkylating agent that reacts with ocular, respiratory, cutaneous, and bone m... more Sulfur mustard is an alkylating agent that reacts with ocular, respiratory, cutaneous, and bone marrow tissues, resulting in early and late toxic effects. We compare these effects based on the experience in Iranian veterans exposed to the agent during the Iran-Iraq conflict (1983-88). The first clinical manifestations of sulfur mustard poisoning occurred in the eyes with a sensation of grittiness, lacrimation, photophobia, blepharospasm, and corneal ulceration. Respiratory effects appeared as rhinorhea, laryngitis, tracheobronchitis, and dyspnoea. Skin lesions varied from erythema to bullous necrotization. Initial leukocytosis and lymphopenia returned to normal within four weeks in recovered patients, but marked cytopenia with bone marrow failure occurred in fatal cases. Late toxic effects of sulfur mustard were most commonly found in lungs, skin and eyes. Main respiratory complications were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, asthma, large airway narrowing, and pulmonary fibrosis. Late skin lesions were hyperpigmentation, dry skin, atrophy, and hypopigmentation. Fifteen of the severely intoxicated patients were diagnosed with delayed keratitis, having corneal vascularization, thinning, and epithelial defect. Respiratory complications exacerbated over time, while cutaneous and ocular lesions decreased or remained constant. Both the severity and frequency of bronchiectatic lesions increased during long-term follow-up. The only deteriorating cutaneous complication was dry skin. The maximum incidence of delayed kaeratitis was observed 15 to 20 years after initial exposure. Being suggested as the main cause ofassociated with malignancies and recurrent infections, natural killer cells were significantly lower 16 to 20 years after intoxication.
ABSTRACT This document represents the final report of discussions and conclusions arising from th... more ABSTRACT This document represents the final report of discussions and conclusions arising from the workshop on Developments in Science and Technology Relevant to the Chemical Weapons Convention, held in Spiez, Switzerland in February 2012.
More than 100,000 Iranian veterans and civilians still suffer from various long-term complication... more More than 100,000 Iranian veterans and civilians still suffer from various long-term complications due to their exposure to sulfur mustard (SM) during the Iran-Iraq war in 1983-88. The aim of the study was to investigate DNA damage of SM in veterans who were exposed to SM, 23-27 years prior to this study. Blood samples were obtained from the veterans and healthy volunteers as negative controls. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples and DNA breaks were measured using single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions (comet assay). Single cells were analyzed with &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Tri Tek Comet Score version 1.5&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; software and DNA break was measured based on the percentage of tail DNA alone, or in the presence of H2O2 (25 μM) as a positive control. A total of 25 SM exposed male veterans and 25 male healthy volunteers with similar ages (44.66 ± 6.2 and 42.12 ± 5.75 years, respectively) were studied. Percentage of the lymphocyte DNA damage was significantly (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01) higher in the SM-exposed individuals than in the controls (6.47 ± 0.52 and 1.31 ± 0.35, respectively). Percentages of DNA damage in the different age groups of 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54 years in SM-exposed veterans (5.48 ± 0.17, 6.7 3 ± 1.58, 6.42 ± 0.22, and 7.27 ± 0.38, respectively) were all significantly (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) higher than the controls (1.18 ± 0.25, 1.53 ± 0.22, 1.27 ± 0.20, and 1.42 ± 0.10, respectively). The lymphocytes incubated with H2O2 had much higher DNA damage as expected. The average of tail DNA is 42.12 ± 2.75% for control cells + H2O2 and 18.48 ± 2.14% for patients cells + H2O2; P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001. SM exposure of the veterans revealed DNA damage as judged by the comet assay.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences the Official Journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Jan 3, 2013
Background:The chemical contamination of water is a major concern for the environmental and healt... more Background:The chemical contamination of water is a major concern for the environmental and health authorities globally. Some anions present in the water are required for human health, but some of them are harmful. Free cyanide and nitrate are amongst the toxic agents in the aquatic environment. Cyanide is highly toxic for human beings. Industrial plants could be attributed to a major source of these toxic agents. Therefore, cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the drinking and irrigation water wells in the high industrial plants were evaluated.Materials and Methods:The samples (57) were taken from drinking and irrigation water wells as well as from a wastewater refinery in north of Mashhad in three stages – March 2009, June 2010, and July 2010. Determination of cyanide and nitrate were performed by a spectrophotometer using commercially available kits according to the manufacturer's protocols.Results:Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the drinking water samples of the three stages were 0.0050 ± 0.0007, 0.0070 ± 0.0018, 0.0008 ± 0.0014 mg/L and 6.50 ± 2.80, 7.20 ± 1.80, 7.50 ± 1.90 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide mean concentration during March, June, and July was significant (P = 0.001), whereas nitrate mean concentration was not (P = 0.5). Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the irrigation water samples of the three stages were 0.0140 ± 0.0130, 0.0077 ± 0.0025, 0.0087 ± 0.0047 mg/L and 12.37 ± 8.12, 8.04 ± 3.99, 8.40 ± 2.60 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide (P = 0.754) and nitrate (P = 0.705) concentrations were not significant during three occasions. Cyanide and nitrate concentrations in the wastewaters of the three stages were 0.1020 ± 0.033, 0.1180 ± 0.033, 0.1200 ± 0.035 mg/L and 1633.80 ± 40.74, 279.00 ± 152.17, 298.40 ± 304.74 mg/L, respectively. Cyanide (P = 0.731) and nitrate (P = 0.187) concentration in wastewaters were not significant during different months.Conclusion:Although nitrate and cyanide concentrations in the drinking and irrigation water were within the standard range (0.07 mg/L for cyanide and 50 mg/L for nitrate) and was not a health problem at the time of our study, regular estimation of the toxic chemicals due to the development of industrial plants in this area is recommended.
Lead poisoning is a historic universal disease. Acute or chronic lead exposure may cause reversib... more Lead poisoning is a historic universal disease. Acute or chronic lead exposure may cause reversible or even permanent damages in human beings. Environmental lead exposure is a global health concern in children. Occupational lead poisoning is still a health issue, particularly in developing countries. During the last decades, new methods and medications have been advocated for the prevention and treatment of lead poisoning. This review deals mainly with recent developments in the management of lead poisoning. Sources of lead exposure are introduced, and methods for the primary prevention of lead poisoning are discussed. Details for the screening of adults and children are also explained to serve as a practical guideline for the secondary prevention. Standard chelation therapy in different groups and up-to-date less toxic new medications for the treatment of lead poisoning are finally discussed. Our published clinical research on the therapeutic effects of garlic tablets in mild to moderate occupational lead poisoning will also be discussed.
Organophosphorus compounds have been used as pesticides and as chemical warfare nerve agents. The... more Organophosphorus compounds have been used as pesticides and as chemical warfare nerve agents. The mechanism of toxicity of organophosphorus compounds is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which results in accumulation of acetylcholine and the continued stimulation of acetylcholine receptors. Therefore, they are also called anticholinesterase agents. Organophosphorus pesticides have largely been used worldwide, and poisoning by these agents, particularly in developing countries, is a serious health problem. Organophosphorus nerve agents were used by Iraqi army against Iranian combatants and even civilian population in 1983 - 1988. They were also used for chemical terrorism in Japan in 1994 - 1995. Their use is still a constant threat to the population. Therefore, medical and health professionals should be aware and learn more about the toxicology and proper management of organophosphorus poisoning. Determination of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity in blood remains a mainstay for the fast initial screening of organophosphorus compounds but lacks sensitivity and specificity. Quantitative analysis of organophosphorus compounds and their degradation products in plasma and urine by mass spectrometric methods may prove exposure but is expensive and is limited to specialized laboratories. However, history of exposure to organophosphorous compounds and clinical manifestations of a cholinergic syndrome are sufficient for management of the affected patients. The standard management of poisoning with organophosphorous compounds consists of decontamination, and injection of atropine sulfate with an oxime. Recent advances on treatment of organophosphorus pesticides poisoning revealed that blood alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate and also magnesium sulfate as adjunctive therapies are promising. Patients who receive prompt proper treatment usually recover from acute toxicity but may suffer from neurologic complications.
Patients with long-term complications of sulfur mustard (SM) poisoning are often less able to und... more Patients with long-term complications of sulfur mustard (SM) poisoning are often less able to undertake optimum levels of physical activity and adequately control their dietary intake. The aim of present study was to investigate the dietary intake of patients with SM poisoning in comparison to a control group Methods: The study was undertaken on 55 Iranian male veterans, who had > 25% disabilities due to long-term complications of SM poisoning and 55 men age-matched healthy subjects. A previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used for measuring dietary macro/micro nutrient intake for both groups; and the results were analysed using Dietplan6 software. Analysis of macro/micro nutrients in dietary intakes of the patients versus the controls showed a significantly lower intake of several nutrients including selenium and carbohydrate. On the other hand, the dietary intake of trans-fatty acids and iodine were significantly higher in these patients. Long-term complic...
To study narcotic drug abuse, particularly opiate addiction, and other risk factors in patients w... more To study narcotic drug abuse, particularly opiate addiction, and other risk factors in patients with acute cholecystitis. In this prospective cross sectional study, variables such as age, gender, weight, narcotics drug abuse, hormone taking, number of pregnancies, and coexistent disease(s) were recorded in pre-designed forms for 100 consecutive patients who underwent operation for acute cholecystitis between October 2001 and June 2005 in Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand, Iran. Relevant statistical tests were applied, using SPSS version 13.0. From the studied patients (62 females, 38 males) with a mean+/-SD of 60.8+/-15.9 years, 66 were underweight, 23 were overweight, and only 11 patients had normal weight. Most of the patients (76) had calculous cholecystitis, of which 50 (65.8%) were female, and 26 (34.2%), were male. Seven females (11%), and 14 males (37%) revealed jaundice (p<0.002). Most (72%) had a history of narcotics abuse, of which 69 (95.8%) abused opiates constantly, and 3 ...
Ursolic acid (UA) is plentifully present in fruits, foods, and medicinal plants, and has anti-can... more Ursolic acid (UA) is plentifully present in fruits, foods, and medicinal plants, and has anti-cancer activity on many cancer cell lines. However, the effects of UA on some melanoma cells and the mechanisms of action have not been reported. The effect of UA on isolated human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines has been investigated using the MTT assay, and cell death was determined using Annexin-V/PI staining. To explore whether the activation of caspases was required for apoptosis induction, cells were treated with pan-caspase inhibitor and UA. Changes in apoptosis pattern were analyzed by flow cytometry. Activation of caspases was detected by western blot analysis. A significant concentration-dependent suppression of cell proliferation was seen after 24 and 48 h in the presence of UA. Apoptosis was considerably increased by UA, indicated by enhancement of an Annexin-V positive population and a sub-G1 peak. UA induced proteolytic processing of caspase-3. The results confirm the anti-cancer properties of UA on cultured human melanoma cells, possibly mediated through the induction of apoptosis following activation of caspases.
Dietary supplements have been used for decades for enhancing muscle growth. The harm caused by so... more Dietary supplements have been used for decades for enhancing muscle growth. The harm caused by some of these products is well documented. We investigated and reported toxic hepatitis in 20 male athletes following self-prescribing of a number of dietary supplements which are lesser known. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; ages ranged from 24 to 32 with a mean of 28 years. They had taken three kinds of supplements for 1 year including testosterone optimizer agent T Bomb II, a creatine supplement Phosphagen and an amino acid based supplement Cell-Tech. Based on the history, clinical examination, and laboratory findings the cases were diagnosed as toxic hepatitis. After discontinuation of taking the supplements, clinical recovery and improvement of liver function tests were achieved within 30 days. Causality assessment with the CIOMS (Council for International Organization Medical Sciences) scale showed a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;possible&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; grade of causality (+5 points) for these supplements. It can be concluded that these newer anabolic supplements may induce toxic hepatitis. Since the health risks of them may be severe, the use of these kinds of dietary supplements should be discouraged.
Dental amalgam is the major source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population. Denta... more Dental amalgam is the major source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population. Dental amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury, which is a toxic element. Since children are more at risk for mercury toxicity, we aimed to study prospectively the effects of amalgam filling on urinary mercury excretion in 5- to 7-year-old children. Children admitted to the Pedodontics Department with no previous amalgam filling, and in a good state of health with one or more carious posterior teeth, were selected. All fillings were placed in one session for each child using Sina (Iran) amalgam powder and Degussa (Germany) mercury, which were mixed by an automated electric amalgamator (Dentomate 3, Germany). Urinary mercury concentrations were estimated before and 9-12 days after amalgam filling by atomic absorption using the mercuric hydride system. Forty-three children (20 male, 23 female) aged 5.95+/-0.92 years and weighing 19.09+/-3.10 kg were studied. Urinary mercury concentrations before and after amalgam filling were 3.83+/-2.45 and 5.14+/-3.14 microg/L, respectively (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant correlations between the urinary mercury concentrations and any other variables, including the number and surfaces of filled teeth, weight, age, and sex. Although there were highly significant increases in urinary mercury concentrations after amalgam filling, no significant correlation was found between the urinary mercury concentration and the amounts of filled amalgam. Additional investigation is required concerning the effects of mercury release from amalgam.
Sulfur mustard is an alkylating agent that reacts with ocular, respiratory, cutaneous, and bone m... more Sulfur mustard is an alkylating agent that reacts with ocular, respiratory, cutaneous, and bone marrow tissues, resulting in early and late toxic effects. We compare these effects based on the experience in Iranian veterans exposed to the agent during the Iran-Iraq conflict (1983-88). The first clinical manifestations of sulfur mustard poisoning occurred in the eyes with a sensation of grittiness, lacrimation, photophobia, blepharospasm, and corneal ulceration. Respiratory effects appeared as rhinorhea, laryngitis, tracheobronchitis, and dyspnoea. Skin lesions varied from erythema to bullous necrotization. Initial leukocytosis and lymphopenia returned to normal within four weeks in recovered patients, but marked cytopenia with bone marrow failure occurred in fatal cases. Late toxic effects of sulfur mustard were most commonly found in lungs, skin and eyes. Main respiratory complications were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, asthma, large airway narrowing, and pulmonary fibrosis. Late skin lesions were hyperpigmentation, dry skin, atrophy, and hypopigmentation. Fifteen of the severely intoxicated patients were diagnosed with delayed keratitis, having corneal vascularization, thinning, and epithelial defect. Respiratory complications exacerbated over time, while cutaneous and ocular lesions decreased or remained constant. Both the severity and frequency of bronchiectatic lesions increased during long-term follow-up. The only deteriorating cutaneous complication was dry skin. The maximum incidence of delayed kaeratitis was observed 15 to 20 years after initial exposure. Being suggested as the main cause ofassociated with malignancies and recurrent infections, natural killer cells were significantly lower 16 to 20 years after intoxication.
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